noun
chippy
A carpenter, in Australian or British trade slang.
The builder hires a chippy to fit the wooden doors in the new house.
Etymology
The nickname identifies a carpenter through the wood chips produced by the work. The familiar ending turns that characteristic byproduct into an informal name for the tradesperson.
More examples
- Our chippy is repairing the staircase.
- A skilled chippy can make the cabinets to measure.
- The site needs two more chippies.
Forms
chippy · chippies
Similar words
- carpenter
- Carpenter is the standard term; chippy is informal trade slang, especially Australian or British.