The metal tip or protective covering at the bottom of a scabbard (sword sheath) or the metal mounting on a book's cover.
From Old French chape meaning 'cape' or 'covering,' derived from Latin cappa. The word originally meant any kind of covering, then specialized to mean the metal protective tip on sheaths and bindings.
A tiny metal piece called a chape has saved thousands of sword scabbards and book covers from wearing through—sometimes the smallest details matter most in preservation.
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