Etymology: Probably < classical Latin cippus cippus n. (although the Latin word appears not to be attested denoting the share-beam of a plough until the 13th cent.; compare also French evidence at chep n.). Compare chep n., which probably shows a variant of this word.Old English cipp is also attested denoting a rod, a stick, stocks (for restraint), a beam (in figurative use), and a weaver's beam. For the purposes of the spelling forms listed here it has been assumed that these all show senses of a single word. Use denoting stocks is found also in early Middle English (providing the only evidence for the form cep). Either cognates or parallel borrowings appear to be shown by some or all of (with varying gender): Old Dutch kip shackle (Middle Dutch kep , also kippe ), Middle Dutch kip- (in kipstoc piece used in the construction of a wagon; Dutch regional (Gelderland) kip small strip of wood in the plough which holds the ploughshare fast), Old Saxon kipp wooden block, Old High German kipf , Old High German kipf , kipfe , denoting a support, a weaver's beam, and various wooden pieces used in the construction of wagons; perhaps compare also Old Icelandic keppr cudgel, club, and related words in other North Germanic languages. All of these words (including the English word) have alternatively been seen as cognate with chip n.², chip v.¹, and forms from other Germanic languages cited at chip v.¹, and a Germanic origin (rather than borrowing from Latin) assumed for all of them; however, the semantic connection, although possible, nonetheless presents some difficulties (it is notable that the words cited at this entry tend to denote larger rather than smaller pieces of wood), and there is no further etymology available to offer further support for this hypothesis, or to tie the various meanings together more convincingly.

Etymology: Related to chip v.¹, and probably derived from the verb (compare discussion at that entry); in earliest use apparently denoting the product of chipping a smaller piece from a larger whole.

Etymology: Imitative of the cry of a bird or other small animal. Compare cheep n. and later chip v.³

Etymology: < chip v.²

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps a word inherited from Germanic, although difficulties in tracing the historical development of the English word, and similar difficulties concerning apparent parallels in other Germanic languages (see note), render any hypothesis extremely tentative. Earlier currency in Middle English is implied by chip axe n., and probably also by chip n.², which is clearly related, although it is not completely certain that it is derived from the verb. Very much earlier currency is perhaps implied by Old English for-cippod (past participle of an otherwise unattested weak Class II verb for-cippian ) occurring four times in (related) glosses of classical Latin praecisus cut off, cut short. It is not certain that branch II. and branch I. show the same word (see also discussion of apparent parallels in other Germanic languages below); if they are developments of a single word, it is unclear whether branch II. developed from branch I. (the cracking or splitting of a seed, bud, or egg being taken to be characterized by fragmentation), or the reverse (any action of fragmentation being seen metaphorically as resembling the cracking or splitting of a seed, bud, or egg). It is unclear what etymological relationship (if any) there is with chop v.¹ (and chop n.¹) and with chap v.¹ It is likely that (regardless of any actual etymological connection) the sense development has been influenced by the perception of a (probably phonaesthetic) relationship between this word and chop v.¹ (and between the corresponding nouns) similar to that between drip v. (and drip n.) and drop v. (and drop n.) and to that between tip n.¹ and top n.¹, with the words with i being felt to indicate greater slightness or delicacy than those with o.Forms in other Germanic languages. Among forms in other Germanic languages, with branch I. perhaps compare Dutch kippen to make an incision or notch in something, German regional (Low German) kippen to cut, to smash by striking, to cut off the tip of, to cut back, to make notches in; perhaps compare also German regional (Low German) kippe , kip point, sharp edge, and perhaps compare also the verbs cited at kip v.¹ With branch II. perhaps compare Middle Dutch, Dutch kippen , Middle Low German kippen to hatch, and also early modern Dutch kip brood, newly hatched chick, Dutch kip hen. Compare also early modern Dutch kepen to make incisions, keep a cut, incision, or groove, Middle Low German kēp incision, notch, nick, and perhaps also Old Icelandic keipr rowlock. There are many uncertainties concerning the relationships between these various words, and it is very far from certain that they are all share a common origin. The number of parallels with the meanings shown by the English verb is nonetheless striking. See also discussion at chip n.¹ for attempts to link all of these words with various words in Germanic languages denoting wooden rods, beams, and supports. Specific senses. In sense 13 after microchip v.