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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chop, v.¹ Also: choppe, chope, choape. [ME. choppe (late 14th c.), of obscure origin. Cf. Chap v.]

1. tr. To cut, or cut off, with a quick blow. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 969.
His scheild he chopit hym fra In tuenty pecis or ma 1535 Stewart 11987.
Chowppis wer choppit of hard be the chin 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 264.
He causses choape the heads off Sr Thomas Moore [etc.] Ib. IV. 27.
His head, … to be chopit off

2. To strike, knock, or tap; to thrust forcibly. To chop by, to force aside. 1513 Doug. v. iv. 87–8.
On the blynd craggis … Fast stykkis scho [the ship], choppand hard quhynnys in hy Ib. ix. xii. 46.
Wikkyt Iuno … Choppyt by the schaft, and fixt it in the ȝet Ib. xi. xiv. 61.
Venulus … Can hys hand from hys throt oft sys chop With all hys strenth 1558-66 Knox I. 99.
Thei wold chope thare familiares on the cheak with it 1598 James VI Basil. Doron (1682) .
So choppeth it [sc. conscience] him with a feeling that he hath done wrong c1610 Melville Mem. 248.
He choppit his hand in myn 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 587.
The said William Fraser … chopt the said compleaner upon the shoulder with a peice of birken rod

b. To chop handis, to shake hands in confirmation of a bargain or in friendship. 1608 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 60.
Alexander Boyd presentlie reconcelit and choppit handis with hir 1614 Crim. Trials III. 272.
Seing the said pairteis ar now agreit, and hes chopin handis 1617 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 354.
Alexander Forbes … confest his wrang … and instantlie choppit handis with the magistrattis and … Mr Willeame 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 68.
It was … his Maiesties pleasur, that they tuo should chope handes

3. intr. To strike; to come with a blow or knock. 1513 Doug. i. iii. 32.
[It was] Dolorus to se thame [the ships] chop on grond Ib. v. vi. 66.
Quhamto held evir neir Dyoris … Hys tays choppand on hys heill 1535 Stewart 18945.
[They] Come to the dur and choppit on ane pyn 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 159.
Gif ony … cummis to dur and desyris entres, that than the maser chop at the dur 1590 Ib. IV. 545.
The said Patrik Crummy … come to the said tolbuith … and, haveing choppit at the yett … , cravit that he micht speik … with the said Raulff Ker 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 413.
Ane … with whome he contractit … to ryse to lyf at his prayers, when he suld choppe thryse vpon his biere 1619 Elgin Rec. II. 160.
Androw Wanes … choppit on his teithe and said thair was lytill good in hir face 1633 Stat. Acc. Scotl. XVIII. App. 659.
Alison came to the said Christian, and chopped upon her shoulder 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 121.
After knocking and choping … at the most patent dors

b. In figurative use. 1587-99 Hume 102/75.
Quhen the lord begins to chop, to appeall to the conscience, & to open the eies of the hairt … then begins the conscience to accuse 1595 Crim. Trials II. ii. 331.
This wes ane visibill signe of the hand of God, that chopped on him quha had done such ane villanie against his conscience 1620 Melrose P. 360.
To chope at the meanest point of youre maiesteis authoritie

4. Of a clock: To strike (an hour). 1636 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 65.
[In the] efternoon the bell to ring betuixt halff houre to five and five choped 1667 Blakhall Narr. 162.
Twelfe houres chopped as I did enter in Leith