v. & n.
v. (chapped, chapping) 1 intr. (esp. of the skin; also of dry ground etc.) crack in fissures, esp. because of exposure and dryness. 2 tr. (of the wind, cold, etc.) cause to chap.
n. (usu. in pl.) 1 a crack in the skin. 2 an open seam.
[ ME, perh. rel. to MLG, MDu. kappen chop off ]