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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHAP, n.³ Also chep-, deriv. chepper (see P.L.D. § 48.1. (3)). [tʃɑp]

1. A knock, a blow, a stroke. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1929 in W. H. Hamilton Holyrood 24:
He gies a wee chap at the door, An' then he whustles low.Abd. 1932 D. Campbell Bamboozled 3:
Gi'e the nail a chap wi' yer haimmer.Gsw. 1993 Margaret Sinclair Soor Plooms and Candy Balls 16:
We hid a signal chap, twice before ah let them in,
Who's that bangin' oan the door, makin' aw that din?Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 232:
The executioner's shoulder did clap, And said, My friend, give a free chap.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 156:
Upon the inside of my koot, A casual chap ae day did do't.

Hence chappie, “a name given to a ghost from the frequent knockings which it made” (E.D.D.).Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 73:
The ghost, which so long troubled the inmates of that forest house, was usually called “Chappie.”

2. Of a clock: striking, stroke. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1834 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) IV. 90:
I aye mak Girrzzy bate the girdle twa-three minutes afore the chap o' the knock.Ork. 18th c. B. H. Hossack Kirkwall (1900) 114:
Before the chap of five he shall not fail but book him.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 63:
Hard on the chap o ten, ilkie nicht wioot devaul, he'd traivel frae room tae room, wyndin up aa the clocks, aince he'd snibbit the front door.Fif. 1893 “G. Setoun” Barncraig vii.:
Mercy me! . . . if the nock's no on the chap o' eleven.

3. A stroke, a turn (of work). Known to Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹⁷ 1939.Abd. 1895 G. Williams Sk. of Scarbraes i.:
Ye wid hae pitten in yer chap time aboot wi' me.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin and Marget 13:
I maun on nae account ging oot o' the hoose or try to work ae chap.

4. A roughness in the sea, a choppy sea (Sh., Ags. 1975, chap). Fif. 1884 G. Bruce Reminisc. 186:
There was a very heavy "chapp," and the crew of four had great difficulty in saving themselves in their boat. Fif. 1910:
There's owre muckle chepper on the sea.