chap

n. [ Perh. abbreviated fr. chapman, but used in a more general sense; or cf. Dan. kiæft jaw, person, E. chap jaw. ] 1. A buyer; a chapman. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If you want to sell, here is your chap. Steele. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A man or boy; a youth; a fellow. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Chapped p. pr. & vb. n. Chapping. ] [ See Chop to cut. ] 1. To cause to open in slits or chinks; to split; to cause the skin of to crack or become rough. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then would unbalanced heat licentious reign,
Crack the dry hill, and chap the russet plain. Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor winter's blast chap her fair face. Lyly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike; to beat. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ See Cheapen. ] To bargain; to buy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Chap, v. t. & i. ] 1. A cleft, crack, or chink, as in the surface of the earth, or in the skin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A division; a breach, as in a party. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Many clefts and chaps in our council board. T. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A blow; a rap. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To crack or open in slits; as, the earth chaps; the hands chap. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike; to knock; to rap. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ Mex. Sp. ] Overalls of sheepskin or leather, usually open at the back, worn, esp. by cowboys, to protect the legs from thorny bushes, as in the chaparral; -- called also chapareras or colloq. chaps. [ Sp. Amer. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. pl. [ Mex. Sp. ] Same as Chaparajos. [ Sp. Amer. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ Sp., fr. chaparro an evergeen oak. ] 1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny shrubs and brambles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chaparral cock; fem.
Chaparral hen (Zool.), a bird of the cuckoo family (Geococcyx Californianus), noted for running with great speed. It ranges from California to Mexico and eastward to Texas; -- called also road runner, ground cuckoo, churea, and snake killer. It is the state bird of New Mexico. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]