Middle English Dictionary Entry
chippe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chippe n. Also chip, chep, ? schepe. |
| Etymology | OE cip(p pole, etc. (corresp. to OS kipp stick, OHG kipfa wagon pole); cp. L cippus 'stake, post', which may be the source of the Gc. words. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A chip, splinter, shaving (of wood); also, kindling, trash (usu. pl.); (b) peg; (c) share-beam (of a plow).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3748 : Who froteth now his lippes With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes, But Absolon?
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester10 : Faget..Talwode..Chyppes.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.130 : Pikyng of Chippes vpon þe commune Grounde.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)185a/a : Enoynte þe membre by a fire of chippes [L sermentorum].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)75 : Chyppe: Quisquilie.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.297 : The brigge made at Magoncia over the water of Rhenus..was so destroyede with ynne thre howres that oon chippe [L astula] of hit remaynede not above the water.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)24b : A chipe: Assula, quisquilie.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)68/32 : A wayk & feble feer, þat vnnethes may to-brenne..smal chippys.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)51/77 : I will gather chippes here to make a fire for yow.
b
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)65 : Put a chippe of what length you wilt in þe cornelle B and anoþer in þe cornelle C..and loke þei be fast on þat quadrat, þat evenly þei stande raysed vp.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)69 : Þe poyntes or chippes D, B in þe quadrat.
c
- [ (1323) Deed St.Peter Glo.(3) in BGAS 3864 : iii chippis pro carucis. ]
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)628 : Culter, dentale, uomerque: cultere, chyppe, chare.
2.
Proverb: chippes in the eie, etc.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1918 : Ofte he heweth up so hihe, That chippes fallen in his yhe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.91 : Þat hewis ouer his heued, þe chip falles in his ine.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1232 : It is not holsom a man to hewe Abouen his hed..List þe chippis wil fallen in his eye.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)36/11 : Wha sa hewes to hie, þe chippes will falle in his egh.
- c1440-a1500 Eglam.(Schleich)71 : Þe man þat hewes over-hey, The chyppis fallis in his eye.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)168 : Me lyst nat hewe chyppes aboue myn hede.
3.
A slice (of bread), bread crumbs [first quot. doubtful].
Associated quotations
- (1423) Acc.Hollingbourne in Archaeol.Cant.13561 : Payde to the said Joh' Boycott and his boy..for mete & schepe.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)456 : With a fewe chippes of light bred stepet in vernage.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)79/7 : 1 pond of chep or doȝ.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)34 : Mak a cerip of the graue of the pik..and alay it with chips of bred.