Dictionary

chelp en · VERB

Etymology

Probably of imitative origin; perhaps from ch(irp) + (y)elp.

Meanings

1. (Northern-England, intransitive) To gossip, particularly in a forthright manner.
   • 1820, John Clare, “My Mary” in Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery, London: Taylor and Hessey, p. 87, Who’s laugh’d at too by every whelp, For failings which she cannot help? But silly fools will laugh and chelp, My Mary.
   • He's not here so we are chelping in the staffroom and ignoring the to-do list on the board.
2. (Northern-England, intransitive) To speak rudely or out of turn.
   • The teacher got angry at all her chelping.

Forms