Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHOP, v.i.¹

1. To catch or attempt to seize with the mouth. [Not used.] To chop at the shadow, and lose the substance. – L'Estrange.
2. To light or fall on suddenly. – Johnson. If this is a legitimate sense, it indicates that the primary sense is, to throw, thrust, or strike. It is not in common use. To chop in, to become modish. [Not used.] – Wilson. To chop out, to give vent to. [Not used.] – Beaum.