chape

Noun

chape (plural chapes)

1. The lower metallic cap at the end of a sword's scabbard.
   • The blade is 33 in. long, of triangular section, etched, gilt and blued at the hilt. The scabbard is covered with black sole-skin, with a gilt locket and chape; the locket inscribed BLAND AND FOSTER, SWORD CUTLERS[…]1904, Sir Guy Francis Laking, The Armoury of Windsor Castle: European Section, page 181
   • Sword and scabbard fittings comprise the sword pommel, the chape at the end of the scabbard, the sword guard at the top of the blade, the sword slide and its accompanying reverse fitting (the latter being sometimes referred to as a girdle-clasp) that were normally bound into the scabbard[…]2012 December 6, Roger Keverne, Jade, Springer, →ISBN, page 119
2. (archaic) The piece by which an object is attached to something, such as the frog of a scabbard or the metal loop at the back of a buckle by which it is fastened to a strap.
   • SABRE-BELT, ( black buff-leather.) — Length 36 to 40 inches, width 1.9 inch; 2 leather chapes sewed on the outside of the belt for attaching 2 brass loops […]1862, United States. Army. Ordnance Department, The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army, page 229
   • At the end of each point a buckle is attached by means of a leather chape, and it is to these buckles that the two […]1893, Saddlery and Harness, page 113
3. The tip of a fox's tail.