Chap Chap (chăp)
noun [ Perh. abbreviated from
chapman , but used in a more general sense; or confer Danish
kiæft jaw, person, English
chap jaw.]
1. A buyer; a chapman. [ Obsolete]
If you want to sell, here is your chap .
Steele.
2. A man or boy; a youth; a fellow. [ Colloq.]
Chap Chap intransitive verb [ See
Cheapen .]
To bargain; to buy. [ Obsolete]
Chaparajos Cha`pa·ra"jos noun plural [ Mex. Spanish ]
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 colloquial chaps . [ Spanish Amer.]
Chapareras Cha`pa·re"ras noun plural [ Mex. Spanish ]
Same as Chaparajos . [ Spanish Amer.]
Chaparral Cha`par·ral" noun [ Spanish , from
chaparro an evergeen oak.]
1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks. 2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny shrubs and brambles. Chaparral cock ;
fem .
Chaparral hen (Zoology) ,
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 .
Chapbook Chap"book` noun [ See
Chap to cheapen.]
Any small book carried about for sale by chapmen or hawkers. Hence, any small book; a toy book.
Chape Chape noun [ French, a churchman's cope, a cover, a chape, from Latin
cappa . See
Cap .]
1. The piece by which an object is attached to something, as the frog of a scabbard or the metal loop at the back of a buckle by which it is fastened to a strap. 2. The transverse guard of a sword or dagger. 3. The metal plate or tip which protects the end of a scabbard, belt, etc. Knight.
Chapeau Cha`peau" noun ;
plural Chapeux . [ French, from Old French
chapel hat. See
Chaplet .]
1. A hat or covering for the head. 2. (Her.) A cap of maintenance. See Maintenance . Chaped Chaped past participle or adjective Furnished with a chape or chapes. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Chapel Chap"el noun [ Old French
chapele , French
chapelle , from Late Latin
capella , orig., a short cloak, hood, or cowl; later, a reliquary, sacred vessel, chapel; dim. of
cappa ,
capa , cloak, cape, cope; also, a covering for the head. The chapel where St. Martin's cloak was preserved as a precious relic, itself came to be called
capella , whence the name was applied to similar paces of worship, and the guardian of this cloak was called
capellanus , or chaplain. See
Cap , and confer
Chaplain .,
Chaplet .]
1. A subordinate place of worship ; as,
(a) a small church, often a private foundation, as for a memorial ;
(b) a small building attached to a church ;
(c) a room or recess in a church, containing an altar. » In Catholic churches, and also in cathedrals and abbey churches,
chapels are usually annexed in the recesses on the sides of the aisles.
Gwilt. 2. A place of worship not connected with a church; as, the chapel of a palace, hospital, or prison. 3. In England, a place of worship used by dissenters from the Established Church; a meetinghouse. 4. A choir of singers, or an orchestra, attached to the court of a prince or nobleman. 5. (Print.) (a) A printing office, said to be so called because printing was first carried on in England in a chapel near Westminster Abbey. (b) An association of workmen in a printing office. Chapel of ease .
(a) A chapel or dependent church built for the ease or a accommodation of an increasing parish, or for parishioners who live at a distance from the principal church. (b) A privy. (Law) --
Chapel master ,
a director of music in a chapel; the director of a court or orchestra. --
To build a chapel (Nautical) ,
to chapel a ship. See Chapel , transitive verb , 2. --
To hold a chapel ,
to have a meeting of the men employed in a printing office, for the purpose of considering questions affecting their interests.
Chapel Chap"el transitive verb 1. To deposit or inter in a chapel; to enshrine. [ Obsolete]
Beau. & Fl. 2. (Nautical) To cause (a ship taken aback in a light breeze) so to turn or make a circuit as to recover, without bracing the yards, the same tack on which she had been sailing.
Chapeless Chape"less adjective Without a chape.
Chapelet Chap"e·let noun [ French See
Chaplet .]
1. A pair of straps, with stirrups, joined at the top and fastened to the pommel or the frame of the saddle, after they have been adjusted to the convenience of the rider. [ Written also
chaplet .]
2. A kind of chain pump, or dredging machine.
Chapellany Chap"el·la·ny noun ;
plural Chapellanies . [ Confer English
chapellenie , Late Latin
capellania . See Chaplain.]
A chapel within the jurisdiction of a church; a subordinate ecclesiastical foundation.
Chapelry Chap"el·ry noun [ Confer Old French
chapelerie .]
The territorial district legally assigned to a chapel.
Chaperon Chap"er·on noun [ French
chaperon . See
Chape ,
Cape ,
Cap .]
1. A hood; especially, an ornamental or an official hood. His head and face covered with a chaperon , out of which there are but two holes to look through.
Howell.
2. A device placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse in pompous funerals. 3. A matron who accompanies a young lady in public, for propriety, or as a guide and protector.
Chaperon Chap"er·on transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Chaperoned ;
present participle & verbal noun Chaperoning .] [ Confer French
chaperonner , from
chaperon .]
To attend in public places as a guide and protector; to matronize. Fortunately Lady Bell Finley, whom I had promised to chaperon , sent to excuse herself.
Hannah More.
Chaperonage Chap"er·on`age noun Attendance of a chaperon on a lady in public; protection afforded by a chaperon.
Chapfallen Chap"fall`en adjective Having the lower chap or jaw drooping, -- an indication of humiliation and dejection; crestfallen; discouraged. See Chopfallen .
Chapiter Chap"i·ter noun [ Old French
chapitel , French
chapiteau , from Latin
capitellum , dim. of
caput head. Confer
Capital ,
Chapter .]
1. (Architecture) A capital [ Obsolete] See Chapital . Ex. xxxvi. 38. 2. (Old Eng. Law) A summary in writing of such matters as are to be inquired of or presented before justices in eyre, or justices of assize, or of the peace, in their sessions; -- also called articles . Jacob.
Chaplain Chap"lain noun [ French
chapelain , from Late Latin
capellanus , from
capella . See
Chapel .]
1. An ecclesiastic who has a chapel, or who performs religious service in a chapel. 2. A clergyman who is officially attached to the army or navy, to some public institution, or to a family or court, for the purpose of performing divine service. 3. Any person (clergyman or layman) chosen to conduct religious exercises for a society, etc.; as, a chaplain of a Masonic or a temperance lodge.
Chaplaincy Chap"lain·cy noun ;
plural Chaplaincies The office, position, or station of a chaplain. Swift.
Chaplainship Chap"lain·ship noun 1. The office or business of a chaplain. The Bethesda of some knight's chaplainship .
Milton.
2. The possession or revenue of a chapel. Johnson.
Chapless Chap"less adjective Having no lower jaw; hence, fleshless. [ R.] "Yellow,
chapless skulls."
Shak.
Chaplet Chap"let noun [ French
chapelet , dim. of Old French
chapel hat, garland, dim. from Late Latin
cappa . See
Cap , and confer
Chapelet ,
Chapeau .]
1. A garland or wreath to be worn on the head. 2. A string of beads, or part of a string, used by Roman Catholic in praying; a third of a rosary, or fifty beads. Her chaplet of beads and her missal.
Longfellow.
3. (Architecture) A small molding, carved into beads, pearls, olives, etc. 4. (Man.) A chapelet. See Chapelet , 1. 5. (Founding) A bent piece of sheet iron, or a pin with thin plates on its ends, for holding a core in place in the mold. 6. A tuft of feathers on a peacock's head. Johnson.
Chaplet Chap"let noun A small chapel or shrine.
Chaplet Chap"let transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Chapleted .]
To adorn with a chaplet or with flowers. R. Browning.
Chapman Chap"man noun ;
plural Chapmen . [ Anglo-Saxon
ceápman ;
ceáp trade +
man man; akin to Dutch
koopman , Swedish
köpman , Danish
kiöpmand , German
kaufmann .f.
Chap to cheapen, and see
Cheap .]
1. One who buys and sells; a merchant; a buyer or a seller. [ Obsolete]
The word of life is a quick commodity, and ought not, as a drug to be obtruded on those chapmen who are unwilling to buy it.
T. Fuller.
2. A peddler; a hawker.
Chappy Chap"py Full of chaps; cleft; gaping; open.
Chaps Chaps noun plural The jaws, or the fleshy parts about them. See Chap . "Open your
chaps again."
Shak.
Chaps Chaps noun plural Short for Chaparajos . [ Colloq.]
Chapter Chap"ter noun [ Old French
chapitre , French
chapitre , from Latin
capitulum , dim. of
caput head, the chief person or thing, the principal division of a writing, chapter. See
Chief , and cf,
Chapiter .]
1. A division of a book or treatise; as, Genesis has fifty chapters . 2. (Eccl.) (a) An assembly of monks, or of the prebends and other clergymen connected with a cathedral, conventual, or collegiate church, or of a diocese, usually presided over by the dean. (b) A community of canons or canonesses. (c) A bishop's council. (d) A business meeting of any religious community. 3. An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson. 4. A meeting of certain organized societies or orders. 5. A chapter house. [ R.]
Burrill. 6. A decretal epistle. Ayliffe. 7. A location or compartment. In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom?
Shak.
Chapter head ,
or Chapter heading ,
that which stands at the head of a chapter, as a title. --
Chapter house ,
a house or room where a chapter meets, esp. a cathedral chapter. --
The chapter of accidents ,
chance. Marryat.
Chapter Chap"ter transitive verb 1. To divide into chapters, as a book. Fuller. 2. To correct; to bring to book, i. e. , to demand chapter and verse. [ Obsolete]
Dryden.
Chaptrel Chap"trel noun [ See
Chapiter .]
(Architecture) An impost. [ Obsolete]
Char Char noun [ French]
A car; a chariot. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Char Char noun [ Middle English
cherr ,
char a turning, time, work, Anglo-Saxon
cerr ,
cyrr , turn, occasion, business, from
cerran ,
cyrran , to turn; akin to Old Saxon
kërian , Old High German
chëran , German
kehren . Confer
Chore ,
Ajar .]
Work done by the day; a single job, or task; a chore. [ Written also
chare .] [ Eng.]
When thou hast done this chare , I give thee leave
To play till doomsday.
Shak.
Char Char transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Charred ;
present participle & verbal noun Charring .] [ Prob. the same word as
char to perform (see
Char ,
noun ), the modern use coming from
charcoal , prop.
coal- turned , turned to coal.]
1. To reduce to coal or carbon by exposure to heat; to reduce to charcoal; to burn to a cinder. 2. To burn slightly or partially; as, to char wood.
Char-a-bancs Char`-a-bancs" noun ;
plural Chars-a-banc . [ French]
A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise.
Char, Chare Char, Chare transitive verb [ See 3d
Char .]
1. To perform; to do; to finish. [ Obsolete]
Nores. Thet char is chared , as the good wife said when she had hanged her husband.
Old Proverb.
2. To work or hew, as stone. Oxf. Gloss.
Char, Chare Char, Chare intransitive verb To work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant; to do small jobs.
Char, Charr Char, Charr noun [ Ir.
cear , Gael.
ceara , lit., red, blood-colored, from
cear blood. So named from its red belly.]
(Zoology) One of the several species of fishes of the genus Salvelinus , allied to the spotted trout and salmon, inhabiting deep lakes in mountainous regions in Europe. In the United States, the brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ) is sometimes called a char .
Chara Cha"ra noun [ New Latin , of uncertain origin.]
(Botany) A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and whorled branches. They flourish in wet places.
Charact Char"act noun A distinctive mark; a character; a letter or sign. [ Obsolete] See Character . In all his dressings, characts , titles, forms.
Shak.
Character Char"ac·ter noun [ Latin , an instrument for marking, character, Greek ..., from ... to make sharp, to cut into furrows, to engrave: confer French
caractère .]
1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye.
Holder.
2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character . You know the character to be your brother's?
Shak.
3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition. The character or that dominion.
Milton.
Know well each Ancient's proper character ;
His fable, subject, scope in every page;
Religion, Country, genius of his Age.
Pope.
A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character .
Motley.
4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character . 5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character ; his character saves him from suspicion. 6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter. 7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one a bad character . This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it.
Addison.
8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [ Colloq.]
9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character ; Cæsar is a great historical character . 10. One of the persons of a drama or novel. » "It would be well if
character and
reputation were used distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be. Character is in himself, reputation is in the minds of others. Character is injured by temptations, and by wrongdoing; reputation by slanders, and libels. Character endures throughout defamation in every form, but perishes when there is a voluntary transgression; reputation may last through numerous transgressions, but be destroyed by a single, and even an unfounded, accusation or aspersion."
Abbott.
Character Char"ac·ter transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Charactered .]
1. To engrave; to inscribe. [ R.]
These trees shall be my books.
And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character .
Shak.
2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [ R.]
Mitford.
Characterism Char"ac·ter·ism noun [ Greek ... a characterizing.]
A distinction of character; a characteristic. [ Obsolete]
Bp. Hall.
Characteristic Char`ac·ter·is"tic adjective [ Greek ...: confer French
charactéristique .]
Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. Characteristic clearness of temper.
Macaulay.
Characteristic Char`ac·ter·is"tic noun 1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. Pope. The characteristics of a true critic.
Johnson.
2. (Math.) The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.
Characteristical Char`ac·ter·is"tic·al adjective Characteristic.
Characteristically Char`ac·ter·is"tic·al·ly adverb In a characteristic manner; in a way that characterizes.
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