Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700, 1811, 1882-1920
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CHAPPIE, CHAPPY, n. Dim. of Chap, n.1, q.v. N.E.D. says "orig. Sc."
1. A little boy. Gen.Sc.Fif. 1882 "S. Tytler" Sc. Marriages I., Jean Kinloch ii.:
He's but a wee chappie of three years.
2. Used as chap, but with a greater degree of familiarity, affection or humorous depreciation. Known to Bnff.2, Fif.10 1939.Sc. 1700 in Scotsman (21 Nov. 1934) 15/1:
Such strangely garbed old doddering chappies.Sc. 1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped iv.:
I was far quicker mysel'; I was a clever chappie.Bnff. 1920 J. Mitchell Jeannie Lowrie 6:
Bit "chappies" doon fae Dev'ronside . . . Cou'd aye get faurest ben the hoose.Ags. 1893 Arbroath Herald (20 April) 2/3:
A draper's apprentice-lookin' chappie, a' lichtit up wi' spittles an' shute.Edb. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 33:
I spy'd, cock'd on his business throne, My norland chappy stately sit, And ee me.
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"Chappie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chappie>
