I. ˈchipə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: chip (II) + -er
: one that chips: as
a. : a tool, device, or machine used for removing unwanted material or surface roughness by chipping (as in finishing castings or forgings or cleaning painted metal) ; specifically : a narrow blade with diametrically opposite and broad cutting points to be fitted between two circular saw blades in a dado head and designed to cut out the wood between the grooves cut by the circular blade
b. : a machine for reducing something (as pulpwood) to chips
c. : a workman who dresses, cleans, or finishes something by chipping or grinding
ore chipper
pottery chipper
tire chipper
: an operator of a chipper
d. : a worker who chips trees for turpentine
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: chip (V) + -er
1. of a bird : chirp , twitter
2. of a person : chatter , babble — see chipper up
III. adjective
Etymology: perhaps variant of kipper
: being in high spirits : cheerful , gay , sprightly
looked chipper , like a man who has been diverted by his own wit — Frances G. Patton
: trim , trig
a chipper man with a bandbox look
: being in good health : being in a state of physical well-being : vigorous
as chipper as when I had last seen him, ten years before — James Thurber