CHIP, CHEAP, CHIPPING, in the names of places, imply a market; from Sax. Ceapan, cypan, to buy or sell. [See Cheap.] CHIP, noun 1. A piece of wood or other substance, separated from a body by cutting instrument, particularly by an ax. It is used also for a piece of stone separated by a chisel or other instrument, in hewing. 2. A fragment or piece broken off; a small piece. CHIP, verb transitive To cut into small pieces, or chips; to diminish by cutting away a little at a time, or in small pieces; to hew. CHIP, verb intransitive To break or fly off in small pieces, as in potters ware.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI