Obs. Also chaplee. [a. OF. chaple violent stroke, shock of combat, f. chapler to cut in pieces, to fight fiercely (mod.F. chapeler to hack, cut clumsily):—late L. capulāre to cut (very common in Salic and Burgundian Laws), app. f. capulus, capulum, handle, hilt of a sword, f. capĕre to take hold of.] A fierce combat or encounter.
c. 1450. Merlin, 134. Whan the speres were broken thei leyde honde to swerdes, and be-gan the chaple so stronge and dured longe tyme. Ibid., 326. Ther be-gan the chaplee so mortall that neuer was sein more mortalite.
