What does "chippy" mean?
A carpenter.
Chippy
/ˈt͡ʃɪpi/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A carpenter.
- Grammar: chippy is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bad woman, baggage, bitch, broad.
- Usage evidence: In Scotland you can get a deep-fried Mars bar in a chippy.
How to use "chippy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "chippy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "chippy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "chippy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "chippy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "chippy" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bad woman" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "chippy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A carpenter. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, slang
"Then, when ah wis apprenticed as a chippy wi a Gorgie builder, ah goes along tae Telford College tae dae ma national certificate modules in joinery."
- 2 A prostitute or promiscuous woman. US, Western, slang
"I manage to pick up a living in spite of the damn chippies. I don't see why the hell they don't go into the business regular and make something out of it, instead of loving free."
- 3 A fish-and-chip shop. Ireland, UK, informal
"Huge queues form outside the Chippy, often stretching back to the Coop and beyond."
- 4 The youngest member of a team or group, normally someone whose voice has not yet deepened, talking like a chipmunk. Australia, slang
- 5 A potato chip. New-Zealand
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A chiptune. informal
- 7 A chipping sparrow. US
"In due time a nest-full of little chippies appear to be nourished with insectiverous^([sic]) food from a parental beak until fledged and able to look after themselves."
- 8 An occasional drug habit, less than addiction. slang
Verb
- 1 To take drugs (especially heroin) on an occasional basis, rather than as an addict. slang
"I chippy around but haven't been hooked in a year now."
Adjective
- 1 Ill-tempered, disagreeable. Canada, UK
"To sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, / In a pestilential prison, with a life-long lock, / Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock, / From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block!"
- 2 Involving violence or unfair play. Canada, US
"2007, Canadian Interuniversity Sport, cisport.ca, The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns and University of Saskatchewan Huskies battled to a 1-1 draw in a chippy Canada West men’s soccer affair that saw the teams combine for 33 fouls and five yellow cards."
- 3 Tending to form chips when cut, rather than larger, more usable pieces of wood.
- 4 As dry as a chip of wood. dated
- 5 Feeling sick from drinking alcohol; hungover. archaic
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"In Scotland you can get a deep-fried Mars bar in a chippy."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "chippy"?
Common synonyms include: bad woman, baggage, bitch, broad, clitoromaniac, cocotte.
How do you use "chippy" in a sentence?
In Scotland you can get a deep-fried Mars bar in a chippy.
How do you pronounce "chippy"?
Pronounced /ˈt͡ʃɪpi/.
Etymology
From chip + -y.