\Chop\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chopped}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Chopping}.] [Cf. LG. & D. kappen, Dan. kappe, Sw. kappa. Cf.
{Chap} to crack.]
1. To cut by striking repeatedly with a sharp instrument; to
   cut into pieces; to mince; -- often with up.
2. To sever or separate by one more blows of a sharp
   instrument; to divide; -- usually with off or down.
         Chop off your hand, and it to the king. --Shak.
3. To seize or devour greedily; -- with up. [Obs.]
         Upon the opening of his mouth he drops his
         breakfast, which the fox presently chopped up.
                                               --L'estrange.

\Chop\, v. i.
1. To make a quick strike, or repeated strokes, with an ax or
   other sharp instrument.
2. To do something suddenly with an unexpected motion; to
   catch or attempt to seize.
         Out of greediness to get both, he chops at the
         shadow, and loses the substance.      --L'Estrange.
3. To interrupt; -- with in or out.
         This fellow interrupted the sermon, even suddenly
         chopping in.                          --Latimer.

\Chop\, v. t. [Cf. D. koopen to buy. See {Cheapen}, v. t.,
and cf. {Chap}, v. i., to buy.]
1. To barter or truck.
2. To exchange; substitute one thing for another.
         We go on chopping and changing our friends.
                                               --L'Estrange.
{To chop logic}, to dispute with an affected use of logical
   terms; to argue sophistically.

\Chop\, v. i.
1. To purchase by way of truck.
2. (Naut.) To vary or shift suddenly; as, the wind chops
   about.
3. To wrangle; to altercate; to bandy words.
         Let not the counsel at the bar chop with the judge.
                                               --Bacon.

\Chop\, n.
A change; a vicissitude. --Marryat.

\Chop\, v. t. & i.
To crack. See {Chap}, v. t. & i.

\Chop\, n.
1. The act of chopping; a stroke.
2. A piece chopped off; a slice or small piece, especially of
   meat; as, a mutton chop.
3. A crack or cleft. See {Chap}.

\Chop\, n. [See {Chap}.]
1. A jaw of an animal; -- commonly in the pl. See {Chops}.
2. A movable jaw or cheek, as of a wooden vise.
3. The land at each side of the mouth of a river, harbor, or
   channel; as, East Chop or West Chop. See {Chops}.

\Chop\, n. [Chin. & Hind. ch[=a]p stamp, brand.]
1. Quality; brand; as, silk of the first chop.
2. A permit or clearance.
{Chop dollar}, a silver dollar stamped to attest its purity.
{chop of tea}, a number of boxes of the same make and quality
   of leaf.
{Chowchow chop}. See under {Chowchow}.
{Grand chop}, a ship's port clearance. --S. W. Williams.