Chapman magazine (for which I used to work) got its name from the same
source. I shouldn't plagiarize, but here goes: from OED definition of
Chapman
[OE. céapmann = OHG. choufman, (OHG., MHG. koufman), Ger. kaufmann, MDu.,
Du. koopman, WGer. type *kaupmann; f. kaup, OHG. chouph, OS. côp, OE. céap
barter, business, dealing + mann man. OE. had also the by-forms cýp-, cýpe-,
cépemann founded on the vb. cípan, cýpan, cípan to sell (:WGer. *kaupjan);
see CHEAP v. The normal ME. repr. of OE. céapmann was chepman (with vowel
shortened by position); but sometimes, in OE. ea, eo, e blended with a
preceding palatal, leaving a or o as the vowel, hence the surviving form
chapman.]
1. A man whose business is buying and selling; a merchant, trader,
dealer. Obs. or arch.
Hence Chap-book
[f. chap in CHAPMAN + BOOK.]
A modern name applied by book-collectors and others to specimens of the
popular literature which was formerly circulated by itinerant dealers or
chapmen, consisting chiefly of small pamphlets of popular tales, ballads,
tracts, etc.
---
People used to think that the mag was named for someone called Mr Chapman.
Much mirth etc.
P
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to
> poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Christopher Walker
> Sent: 15 April 2005 11:28
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: chapbooks
>
> <snip>
> Originally,'chapbooks' we called 'cheap-books'
> <snip>
>
> Surely < 'chapman' (= trader) + 'book'. A book that is
> bargained or peddled, but not a bargain-book.
>
> A 'cheap', of course, was a market.
>
> CW
>
> __________________________________________
>
> 'I might have known you'd choose the easy way'
> (Franz Kline's mother)
>
>
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