In heraldry, a narrow band or border along the edge of a shield; a decorative charge used in coat-of-arms design.
From Old French chape (cape or border), related to cappa (cloak). The heraldic meaning developed as the term for edge-border elements in medieval shield design.
Medieval heralds had incredibly specific vocabulary for every line and border—a chappe wasn't just any edge but a very precise architectural division of shield space that could convey family status and territorial claims.
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