chelp

Probably of imitative origin;[1] perhaps from ch(irp) + (y)elp.[2]

chelp (third-person singular simple present chelps, present participle chelping, simple past and past participle chelped)

1. (intransitive, Northern England) To gossip, particularly in a forthright manner.

   He's not here so we are chelping in the staffroom and ignoring the to-do list on the board.

   • 1820, John Clare, “My Mary” in Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery, London: Taylor and Hessey, p. 87,

     Who’s laugh’d at too by every whelp,

     For failings which she cannot help?

     But silly fools will laugh and chelp,

     My Mary.

2. (intransitive, Northern England) To speak rudely or out of turn.

   The teacher got angry at all her chelping.

• Pelch