adjective
chippy
CHIP-ee/tʃˈɪpi/
Easily irritated and ready to argue.
The chippy customer scowls and points accusingly after a minor accidental bump.
Etymology
Probably associated with having a chip on one's shoulder. The adjective's exact formation is uncertain.
More examples
- His chippy reply surprised her.
- The debate grew increasingly chippy.
- She sounded chippy when asked to repeat the explanation.
Forms
chippy · chippier · chippiest
Similar words
- irritable
- Irritable suggests easy annoyance; chippy particularly suggests readiness to argue.