English

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Etymology

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From Yiddish כאַפּטסעם (khaptsem), from כאַפּן (khapn, to catch, get) and אים (im, him).

Interjection

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chaptzem

  1. Help! Catch him/her/them!

Usage notes

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In Jewish neighborhoods when crime was rampant, a Jew who was being accosted by someone would yell "chaptzem" to summon help.