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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chape, Chaip, v.¹ Also: chap, chaipe, cheap. [ME. chape (rare), aphetic f. achape Eschape v.]

1. intr. To escape by flight or by deliverance from danger; to get away alive.(a) 1375 Barb. ii. 24.
He tauld hys brodyr … How he chapyt wes throw cas a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 300.
I pray ȝow Tellis me quhow ȝe chapyt now Ib. xxix. 975.
In a place quhare thai Ine na maner mycht chape away c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1546.
From the hondes at the last He has chaped c1420 Wynt. iii. 66.
In this mene tyme prewaly Ayot chapyde Ib. iv. 1694.
Hanyball, bot wyth foure men … wes chapyd then c1475 Wall. i. 96.
Be this fals awentur, Of trew Scottis chapyt na creatur Ib. vii. 434; etc.
Lat ws to borch our men … that chapyt fra your ayr a1500 Seven S. 542.
The herd sawe that he chape nocht micht c1515 Asl. MS. I. 231/17.
The tother chapit richt narowly with his lyf 1535 Stewart 1409.
In all that schip chapit nather ald nor ȝing Ib. 29774.
Of Saxone blude thair chapit neuir ane c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2777.
The rest that chapit wer unslane, To Ninus greit oiste fled agane 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 64.
He chapit weill fra villanis wald haue slane him 1596 Dalr. II. 22/26.
Fleanch chapet throuch occasioun of the nycht seasoun 1600 Crim. Trials II. i. 251.
He schew the maner how he chappit to have bein thus(b) c1475 Wall. x. 613.
And Eduuard chaip, I pas with him agayn Ib. 616.
I cum to thé, may I chaip fra that dout 1535 Stewart 2475.
Thame thai ouirtuke tha chaipit neuir nane Ib. 42615.
He hapnit … Ontane or slane to chaip out of that place 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 128.
Prasit be God, they chaipit with thair lyfe a1578 Pitsc. II. 204/2.
The victorie fell to the regent … and the quein chaipped narowlie hir sellff 1596 Dalr. II. 468/11.
Becaus tha knew him nocht tha mist him, and sa he chaiped

2. To escape injury or punishment; to get off unharmed. 14.. Acts I. 51/2.
He sal nocht chap withoutyn gret payn of his body ?1438 Alex. i. 1109.
Quhom euir he hit, … He chapit nocht vnhurt a1487 Gud Wife & D. 230.
Foull women ar sa smytabill, That euir the company quhar thai tak Sall neuir chap for-outen lak c1475 Wall. ix. 76.
Wald God I war torment, So Wallace mycht with worschip chaip wnschent a1500 Seven S. 2408.
Ȝour self sall not chaip vndefamit Ib. 4155.
Gif ȝe chaip but reprufe a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 279.
Yone knicht to scar with skaitht ye chaip nocht bot scorne c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 58.
He implorit … They wald him gif thair counsal … How he should chaip without tribulatioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5420.
Sa that day he chaipit fra the gallous a1568 Scott xxxiv. 30.
How mony [women] ar begyllit! And few, I fynd, that chaipis a1578 Pitsc. I. 215/27.
His brother wald … haue hangit the pledgis, quhilk as it was chaipit narowlie 1596 Dalr. I. 97/17.
Thay reioyse that vnpuniste ay thay chaipe

3. tr. To escape, get free or away from (danger, etc.).(a) a1400 Leg. S. xv. 163.
Thai that chapit that ruyne, Fled to the tempil Apolyne a1500 Seven S. 1471.
Scho was chapit antaris twa 1513 Doug. ix. vii. 39.
Nysus was went, and by this chapyt cleir Hys ennemys 15.. Clar. iii. 2298.
I thanke the Trinitie, That ȝe have chapit this infirmitie 1551 Hamilton Cat. 65.
Greit sweraris … cheapit neuir greit punitioun 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 25 (M).
Eftir that I had chapit that case(b) 1535 Stewart 13213.
Traist weill tha will nocht chaip Siclike ane deid 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3001.
He sall na langer chaip Upon the morne be hingit in ane raip a1585 Maitl. Q. xxviii. 55.
Except ȝe mend ȝe sall not chaipe his hand Ib. lxiii. 154.
Thow sall not chaip mischeif 1596 Dalr. II. 144/15.
Sum of the nobilitie, quha safe had chaped al danger