chop

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a jawbone

   I was hit on the chops.

2. 2
   noun

   irregular motion of waves, usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide

   The boat headed into the chop.

3. 3
   verb

   to cut with a hacking tool

   I chopped the veggies.

4. 4
   verb

   to cut into pieces

   We chopped the vegetables for a soup.

5. 5
   verb

   to form or shape by chopping

   Chop a hole in the ground for this pipe.

6. 6
   noun

   A cut of meat, often containing a section of a rib.

   I only like lamb chops with mint jelly.

7. 7
   noun

   A blow with an axe, cleaver, or similar implement.

   It should take just one good chop to fell the sapling.

8. 8
   noun

   A blow delivered with the hand rigid and outstretched.

   A karate chop.

Etymology

From Middle English choppen, chappen (“to chop”), of uncertain origin, possibly onomatopoeic, or a variant of chap (“to become cracked”). Cognate with Scots chap (“to chop”). Compare also Saterland Frisian kappe, kapje (“to hack; chop; lop off”), Dutch kappen (“to chop, cut, hew”), German Low German kappen (“to cut off; clip”), German kappen (“to cut; clip”), German dialectal chapfen, kchapfen (“to chop into small pieces”), Albanian copë (“piece, chunk”), Old English *ċippian (in forċippian (“to cut off”)). Perhaps related to chip.