Chip on shoulder
Encyclopedia
One carries a chip on one's shoulder as a form of physical challenge, inviting opponents to knock the chip off and so provoke a fight. The concept is now metaphorical, describing people who nurse a grudge
or grievance
that readily provokes fury or disputation.
This custom is known in North America since the early 19th century. The New York
newspaper Long Island Telegraph reported on 20 May 1830 "when two churlish boys were determined to fight, a chip would be placed on the shoulder of one, and the other demanded to knock it off at his peril". A similar notion is mentioned in the issue of the Onondaga Standard of Syracuse
, New York
on 8 December 1830: "'He waylay me', said I, 'the mean sneaking fellow - I am only afraid that he will sue me for damages. Oh! if I only could get him to knock a chip off my shoulder, and so get round the law, I would give him one of the soundest thrashings he ever had'." Some time later in 1855 the phrase "chip on his shoulder" appeared in the Weekly Oregonian, stating "Leland, in his last issue, struts out with a chip on his shoulder, and dares Bush to knock it off".
In Canada, the custom is well described at St. Peter Claver's Indian Residential School for Ojibway boys in the town of Spanish
, The challenger might further provoke his opponent by issuing a dare
for him to knock off the chip. The opponent might then display his bravery and contempt by brushing the cheek of the challenger lightly as he did so. In more formal cases, a second
might take the chip and present the chip to his man who would then place it on his own shoulder. The boys would then square off and fistfight
like boxers.
Grudge
A grudge is something that is held against someone for something or an issue they haven't resolved peacefully or discussed.Grudge may refer to:*The Grudge, a horror film**The Grudge *The Grudge , an album by Mortiis...
or grievance
Grievance
A grievance is a wrong or hardship suffered, which is the grounds of a complaint.-History and politics:A grievance may arise from injustice or tyranny, and be cause for rebellion or revolution....
that readily provokes fury or disputation.
History
"A chip on the shoulder" comes from the ancient right of shipwrights within the Royal Navy Dockyards to take home a daily allowance of offcuts of timber, even if good wood was cut up for this purpose. The privilege was reinstated before 1660. By 1756, this privilege had been abused and was costing the taxpayer too much in lost timber for warship repair and construction. The decision was made by the Navy Board to limit the quantity a shipwright could carry home. A warrant was issued to the Royal Dockyards to reduce the quantity of chips by ordering shipwrights to carry their bundles under their arms instead of on their shoulders, as one could not carry as much timber in this fashion. The specific incident from which the expression derives is as follows:This custom is known in North America since the early 19th century. The New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
newspaper Long Island Telegraph reported on 20 May 1830 "when two churlish boys were determined to fight, a chip would be placed on the shoulder of one, and the other demanded to knock it off at his peril". A similar notion is mentioned in the issue of the Onondaga Standard of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on 8 December 1830: "'He waylay me', said I, 'the mean sneaking fellow - I am only afraid that he will sue me for damages. Oh! if I only could get him to knock a chip off my shoulder, and so get round the law, I would give him one of the soundest thrashings he ever had'." Some time later in 1855 the phrase "chip on his shoulder" appeared in the Weekly Oregonian, stating "Leland, in his last issue, struts out with a chip on his shoulder, and dares Bush to knock it off".
In Canada, the custom is well described at St. Peter Claver's Indian Residential School for Ojibway boys in the town of Spanish
Spanish, Ontario
Spanish is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located on Trans-Canada Highway 17 in the Algoma District near the border of the Sudbury District...
, The challenger might further provoke his opponent by issuing a dare
Dare
-Arts and entertainment:* Dan Dare, a classic British science fiction comics hero* Dare , a 1965 novel by Philip José Farmer* Dare, a 2007 novel by BET host Abiola Abrams* Dare , a 2009 film- Music :...
for him to knock off the chip. The opponent might then display his bravery and contempt by brushing the cheek of the challenger lightly as he did so. In more formal cases, a second
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
might take the chip and present the chip to his man who would then place it on his own shoulder. The boys would then square off and fistfight
Fistfight
Russian fist fighting is the traditional bare-knuckle boxing of Russia.-History:The earliest accounts concerning the sport date to the 13th century...
like boxers.