Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

chape

/t͡ʃeɪp/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.41 in modern English

Syllables: chape
IPA: /t͡ʃeɪp/

12

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The lower metallic cap at the end of a sword's scabbard.

noun

Alternative form of chappe (“rainguard”) (piece fitted to a sword's crossguard).

noun

The piece by which an object is attached to something, such as the frog of a scabbard or the metal loop at the back of a buckle by which it is fastened to a strap.

Archaic

noun

The tip of a fox's tail.

Example Sentences

"The blade is 33 in. long, of triangular section, etched, gilt and blued at the hilt. The scabbard is covered with black sole-skin, with a gilt locket and chape; the locket inscribed BLAND AND FOSTER, SWORD CUTLERS[…]"
"Sword and scabbard fittings comprise the sword pommel, the chape at the end of the scabbard, the sword guard at the top of the blade, the sword slide and its accompanying reverse fitting (the latter being sometimes referred to as a girdle-clasp) that were normally bound into the scabbard[…]"
"The scabbard ended in a chape, which took two forms: sometimes it terminated in a ball, and sometimes in a crescent or fish-tail."
"[…] the swords nevertheless do not lack the chape, the small leather piece that overlaps the crossguard in a semi-circle over the base of the blade and that is often referred to as a rain guard."
"SABRE-BELT, ( black buff-leather.) — Length 36 to 40 inches, width 1.9 inch; 2 leather chapes sewed on the outside of the belt for attaching 2 brass loops […]"
"At the end of each point a buckle is attached by means of a leather chape, and it is to these buckles that the two […]"

Etymology

From Middle English chape, from Old French chape (“a churchman's cope, a cover, a chape”), from Latin cappa, itself derived from Latin caput (“the head”). Doublet of cap, cape, and cope.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *kap-, chape, cappa, caput

Usage

Archaic

Inflected Forms

chapes (plural)

Derived Forms

chaped chapeless

Rhymes With

shape escape rape tape cape narrow escape punched tape punched paper tape grape ape scrape vape

Questions

How do you pronounce chape?: The recorded pronunciation is /t͡ʃeɪp/.
What does chape mean?: The lower metallic cap at the end of a sword's scabbard.
Where does chape come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce chape

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “chape”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/t͡ʃeɪp/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “chape” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.