Meaning & use
Chaps
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Sturdy leather leg coverings worn over trousers, typically by cowboys or motorcyclists, to protect the legs; also, informally, men or fellows (British).
See it in a sentence
The rancher pulled on his chaps before heading out to check the fences.
A couple of chaps from the office stopped by the pub after work.
A note on using this word
The clothing sense comes from Mexican Spanish 'chaparreras'; the unrelated British informal sense meaning 'men' likely derives from 'chap' as a shortening of 'chapman', an old word for a trader or fellow.
Words with a similar meaning
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Another way to use it
2. noun
Men or fellows, used informally, especially in British English.
Come on, chaps, let's get moving before it rains.
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