How do you pronounce "chaps"?

October 12, 2017, 03:40 PM

Although I am aware of the origin of the word and how "chaparreras" is pronounced (with "sh"), I have never heard the shorter form pronounced with the "sh" sound--always with "ch". (Of course, I did not grow up in the Southwest cattle country.)

flashguy

October 12, 2017, 05:27 PM

Rolan_Kraps

quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
Well, I've been to 57 states so far, I think I've got one more to go, and I have never heard the "shaps" pronunciation.

That is the way we pronounce it in the Cowboy Action Shooting community.

October 12, 2017, 06:05 PM

SapperSteel

To the guys (and gals) who actually use them to punch cattle from horseback, the word is pronounced "shaps".

Everybody else is just making it up as they go along.

October 12, 2017, 06:07 PM

heavyd

I've definitely heard chit instead of shit.

October 12, 2017, 06:26 PM

Sacramento Johnson

"Shaps" and "chinks" (with the 'ch' sound) here in southern Nevada (and when I was in northern CA years ago, as well).

October 12, 2017, 08:09 PM

TMats

quote:
Originally posted by Chance:
quote:
Originally posted by jhe888:
The farther west you go, the more likely you are to hear it said "shaps." Here in Gulf Coast Texas, I mostly hear "chaps" with a hard ch, but not always.

What about chinks (the short chaps, not the ethnic slur)? I've always heard that said with a hard ch.

Here in NM and Central Texas it is Shaps and Chinks. Don't know why the two are different.

One is a direct Spanish derivative, the other isn't. Differing slightly in appearance from chinks, having a fringed leather flap folded over at the waist, Spanish short chaps in the vaquero tradition are called armitas. That style has become more popular, especially in buckaroo country.

quote:

Originally posted by rh:
They are CH-aps in Texas.

Originally posted by GT40DOC:
They are in Okla. and Az. also.

Don't know about Oklahoma, but I can say emphatically about Arizona, since I worked horseback there for most of 20 years--"No, you're wrong."

October 12, 2017, 08:26 PM

john1

In the 80's and 90's I watched the world from between the ears of a horse while chasing the wild bovine.

What I picked up on was that "punchers" (Texas and New Mexico) wore leggins.
"Cowboys" (Colorado, Kansas, the Dakotas, maybe Utah and Montana) wore shaps.
"Buckaroos" (Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Ariznona and California) wore chinks.

Western Horseman began infuencing style during that time and by and by everybody began stuffing their britches in their boots, riding slick fork saddles and wearing chinks. Packers became the thing then, too.

Nowdays with my more limited contacts I think I'm seeing 1960-era hat styles such as a severe bend to the side of hats maybe becoming popular (like a Steve McQueen rodeo movie).

If I remember correctly Jay Dusard put out an oversized coffee-table book called "Buckaroo" during the 80's old-timey revival. It's in the other room but there's a sleeping dog on my legs and it ain't worth it to wake him up and go get it. Lots of chinks, big waxed moustaches, flat brimmed hats and rawhide reatas.

I made leggins (and chinks) back then and the best compliment I ever heard was when a puncher from Alpine TX said: "Now them's punchy as hell".

October 12, 2017, 08:40 PM

TMats

John, I meant to address "leggins" in my post above. I always thought of leggins as a specific type of chap. More than that, a specific type of shotgun chap that you step into, rather than having a zipper.

I don't know if Jay Dusard also published a book called "Buckaroo" in the 80s, but one of my prized possessions is his book "The North American Cowboy; A Portrait." Years ago I had a friend show a lot of interest in the book and looked online with the idea of buying him a copy. Long out of print, the book is worth several hundred dollars.

October 12, 2017, 08:45 PM

rusbro

It's a chame people don't know the proper pronunshiation.

October 12, 2017, 09:52 PM

henryaz

quote:
Originally posted by GT-40DOC

They are in Okla. and Az. also.

Depends on your AZ location. Here in Wickenburg, you would get a raised eyebrow for "chaps" They would understand your meaning, but mark you as an outsider..

October 12, 2017, 10:35 PM

Prefontaine

Blue Oyster Bar

October 13, 2017, 02:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by GT-40DOC:
quote:
Originally posted by rh:
They are CH-aps in Texas.

They are in Okla. and Az. also.

My post earlier today was off the cuff hyperbole, as I tried to indicate with a

in my followup post.

Relatives from Oklahoma are visiting. I was hearing email notifications and glanced at some posts on this topic. A senior relative asked me "What are you laughing at?" I replied "I seem to have gotten involved in a controversy with some people on the computer. ... Uh, what do you call those leather leggings used with horses?" "We always called them CHaps." was his reply.

I've never heard them pronounced "shaps" before today. It's not an East Coast / Yankee thing since most of the cattle side of my family emigrated to Texas from Arkansas and Tennessee around the time that Texas became a state. Gringoized chaparreras best explain this interesting but relatively unimportant discovery in pronunciation to me.

An aside: Chaps are quite useful in logged areas of rural Washington. European settlers introduced thorned brambles for food (two species of blackberries) which thrive in poor acidic soil. Those things will rip open your clothes and flesh, which is why I own and sometimes wear chaps.

October 13, 2017, 02:09 AM

Kevbo

My daughter rides horses here in the heart of Virginia horse country...I've only heard them called "ch"aps

Of course, western riding isn't the primary form of horsemanship around here....so most people around here are in jogpurs

And as someone who did not grow up in that community I find the idea of men waltzing around in jogpurs a little strange.

October 13, 2017, 11:53 AM

Texas Bob C.

Chieauxps, it's French.

October 13, 2017, 12:01 PM

TheFrontRange

quote:
Originally posted by Eponym:
^^^ Ditto.

<Insert Sean Connery meme here> or would that be "shapsh"?

LOL!!!

October 13, 2017, 08:53 PM

henryaz

So I stopped by my favorite saddle maker today. and had a shat with her.

She's the one who first introduced me to the "shaps" pronunciation. She's from Rhode Island (moved here in 1986, apprenticed at Ben's Saddlery for 15 years), and pointed out the difference in East/vs/West ways. She now has her own custom saddlery shop.

October 14, 2017, 10:43 AM

DoubleAdobe

quote:
Originally posted by henryaz:

So I stopped by my favorite saddle maker today. and had a shat with her. She's the one who first introduced me to the "shaps" pronunciation. She's from Rhode Island (moved here in 1986, apprenticed at Ben's Saddlery for 15 years), and pointed out the difference in East/vs/West ways. She now has her own custom saddlery shop.

Rhode Island? Get a rope! Naw, just kidding.
I knew an old feller, he is gone now, a helluva an old cowboy here in Arizona. He was born and raised in CT.He took a back seat to no one by the time he learned the trade. At his funeral, I found out he had fought at the Battle of the Bulge. He had never mentioned it.
Oh, BTW, he pronounced it shaps,lol.