Obs. contemptuous. Also 6–7 chopt-logicke. [cf. CHOP v.2 8.]
1. Sophistical or contentious argument.
1533. More, Apol., xxvii. Wks. 893/1. All suche argumentes, and suche choppelogikes agaynste good rules.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 395 b. What kinde of chopp-logick is this?… A trymm conclusion surely!
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier (1871), 13. Cloth-Breeches … swore … that this chop-logick was not worth a pinne.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 254/1. Argumentation … is … termed also Demonstration, Sophistry, Chop Logick, Polemic.
2. One who chops logic; a contentious, sophistical arguer.
1561. Awdelay, Frat. Vacab., 15. Choplogyke is he that when his mayster rebuketh him of hys fault he wyll geve hym xx wordes for one.
1576. Newton, Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 209. Wranglers, Busie medlers in other mens matters … Choplogicks, and Prattlers.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. v. 150. How now? Chopt Logicke? what is this?
3. attrib.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., xliv. 213. And take vpon him in chop logic lawse To controll vs.
Hence Chop-logical a., argumentative, disputatious. Tindale uses chopological in derision of tropological.
1528. Tindale, Doctr. Treat. (1848), 308. The literal sense killeth…. We must therefore, say they, seek out some chopological sense.
a. 1652. Brome, Queen & Concubine, IV. v. You choplogical Rascal. Ibid., V. vii. Why thou choplogicall Fellow, dost thou not think, there are as good men hanged?
