Standard Lemma guide

chelp

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To gossip, particularly in a forthright manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England, intransitive

Examples

  • He's not here so we are chelping in the staffroom and ignoring the to-do list on the board.
  • 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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To speak rudely or out of turn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England, intransitive

Examples

  • The teacher got angry at all her chelping.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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