chop
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In the Canton jargon of Anglo-Chinese, this word has several significations. It means an official seal, a permit, a boat load of teas. FIRST CHOP signifies first quality; and CHOP-CHOP, to make haste.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “chop” mean?
In the Canton jargon of Anglo-Chinese, this word has several significations. It means an official seal, a permit, a boat load of teas. FIRST CHOP signifies first quality; and CHOP-CHOP, to make haste.
Is “chop” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.