▪ I. chirrup, v.
(ˈtʃɪrəp)
Forms: 6 cherip, 7 cherrip, cherrup, 7–9 cherup, 7– chirrup.
[Evidently formed from chirp, by trilling the r, and developing an additional syllable, to indicate a corresponding variation of sound. But it was thus brought into phonetic association with cheer, cheerful, cheer up, which have acted powerfully upon its sense-development, so that chirrup now conveys a more sprightly or cheery notion than chirp.]
1. intr. Of birds, etc.: To chirp, esp. with a more sustained and lively effect, approaching to twittering or warbling.
| 1579 [see chirruping vbl. n.]. 1637 G. Daniel Genius of this Isle 358 Birds cherup in the woods, And mingle notes. 1649 ― Trinarch. To Rdr. 125 Finches are taught to Cherrip with the Quill. Ibid., Rich. II, 314 If the Great Ones Sing The smaller Cherrup. 1766 Goldsm. Hermit, The cricket chirrups in the hearth. 1840 Browning Sordello vi. 461 Cherups the contumacious grass-hopper. 1864 Tennyson Grandmother x, Whit, whit, whit, in the bush beside me chirrupt the nightingale. |
b. trans. with cognate object.
| 1645 G. Daniel Poems Wks. 1878 II. 70 The poore wren Cherups what the Larke doth Sing. 1865 Livingstone Zambesi ix. 189 [The ant] chirrups a few clear and distinct notes. |
2. intr. Of persons: To make a sharp thin sound (by suction) with the lips compressed by way of encouragement or greeting (to a horse, an infant, etc.).
| a 1726 Vanbrugh Journ. Lond. ii. (1730) 241 If I do but chirrup to her, she'll hop after me like a tame sparrow. 1860 Holland Miss Gilbert vi. 93 Dr. Gilbert chirruped to the little black pony. 1879 Browning Ivan Ivanovitch 100 Start him on the road: but chirrup, none the less. |
b. trans. To greet or incite by chirruping.
| 1784 Cowper Task iii. 9 He cherups brisk his ear-erecting steed. 1861 Mrs. Stowe Pearl Orr's Isl., Trotted, chirrupped in babyhood on their knees. |
c. slang. To cheer or applaud (public performers) for a consideration. Hence chirruper = F. claqueur.
| 1888 Pall Mall G. 6 Mar. 4/2 A ‘chirruper’..excused himself at the Lambeth police-court yesterday by alleging that ‘he thought there was no harm in it’. Ibid. 9 Mar. 14/1 Chirruping, As to the etymology of the word..the French argot for blackmail is chantage. Such paltry operations as those reported from the Lambeth music-hall do not merit the description of singing—they are simply twittering or ‘chirrupping’. 1888 J. Payn in Illustr. Lond. News 17 Mar. 268 The..singers in music-halls cannot..do without him (the ‘chirruper’). |
3. intr. To speak or sing in sprightly tones.
| 1775 Sheridan Rivals ii. i, How she did chirrup at Mrs. Piano's Concert! 1870 Emerson Soc. & Solit. Domest. Life Wks. (Bohn) III. 42 All..gabble and chirrup to him. |
▪ II. chirrup, n.
(ˈtʃɪrəp)
Also cherup.
[f. prec.]
1. A lively modulated chirp (of a bird or insect).
| 1830 Tennyson Mariana vii, The sparrow's chirrup on the roof. 1845 Dickens Cricket on Hearth (1887) 8 And here..the Cricket did chime in with a Chirrup, Chirrup, Chirrup..by way of chorus. 1862 Trench Poems, Monk & Bird xxx, The merry chirrup of the grass-hopper. |
2. A similar sound made by man, expressing incitement, liveliness, etc.
| 1788 Cowper Dog & Water-lily vii, With a cherup clear and strong, Dispersing all his dream. 1850 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom xiv, He heard..the chirrup of the baby at his knee. 1872 Holland Marble Proph. 29 Smothered his chirrup of delight. |