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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

CHAP, v. ²

1. To strike a bargain with; to agree to, to hold to a bargain, to ratify (a bargain). Known to Abd.², Ags.², Fif.¹ 1939.Ags. 1863 Arbroath Guide (3 Jan.) 2/3:
“Weel, Bob,” says one, “if you vote against so and so, I'll gie ye a gill.” “Chappit,” says friend Bob.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet x.:
The loud laughter of the farmers, millers, and dealers, with mingled sounds of “Luckpenny,” “Arles,” “I'll niffer ye,” “I chap ye” . . . all contributed to render the Cowgate on such occasions [market-days] a very stirring and not uninteresting scene.Dmf. 1824 in J. M. Corrie Droving Days in S.W. Scot. (1915) 134:
There was aye twa or three at the door ready to chap the bargain.

2. To choose, to select (sometimes with out); to lay a claim; to pick sides in a team-game (cf. Chaps, v., 3). Known to Bnff.², Abd.², Ags.¹⁶, Fif.¹, Slg.³ 1939.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 120:
Chap out as monie yonker's frae your glen, As ilka horn an' hoove o' yours may ken. [This quot. might possibly be assigned to Chap, v.¹, 2.]Ags. 1875 J. C. Guthrie Vale of Strathmore xii.:
When you're a minister, I chap to be the minister's man.Ags.¹⁷ c.1885:
I chap, I ca', I'll chuse the best man oot amang ye a'.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 107:
And cry'd — “I chap this thing; Mine be the embassage.”Fif. 1910: 
'Chap a' thae folk to my weddin' - said by children as a flock of birds passed overhead.

Phr.: to chap an(d) chuse, to make a choice (Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1939). Also as n.phr. chap an' choice, great variety.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 235:
Whatever you be wanting, You's have at Will to chap and chuse.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 110:
Spare no pains nor care, For chap an' choice of suits ye hae them there.Ags. 1823 A. Balfour Foundling of Glenthorn II. iii.:
Now, goodman, there's three outlooks for him, let him chap an' chuse.