chops

== English == === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /t͡ʃɑps/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /t͡ʃɒps/ Rhymes: -ɒps === Etymology 1 === From the plural of chop (“jaw, side of a harbour”). The jazz slang sense “musical ability” is a reference to the use of the lips to blow instruments. ==== Noun ==== chops pl (plural only) plural of chop (slang) Jaws, lips, mouth. Alternative form: chaps (originally US jazz slang) One's skill at musical interpretation and delivery; musical performance ability. (informal, by extension) One's skill at any endeavor; ability, talent; competency. (nautical) The area where two tides meet and cause an irregular (choppy) sea. (juggling) A pattern that involves carrying the object with the hand over the next object before throwing it. (Australia, Nigeria, slang) Food. ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. ==== Verb ==== chops third-person singular simple present indicative of chop === Etymology 3 === See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. ==== Verb ==== chops (third-person singular simple present chopses, present participle chopsing, simple past and past participle chopsed) Alternative form of chopse. === Further reading === chops (juggling) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “chops n.1”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present. [John Camden Hotten] (1859), “CHOPS”, in A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, […], London: John Camden Hotten, […], →OCLC, page 20.