chap-book 的詞源

此外， chapbook，即1812年起源於 chap 。該詞短稱 chapman，最初被稱爲此類書籍曾由行商兜售。

One of a class of tracts upon homely and miscellaneous subjects which at one time formed the chief popular literature of Great Britain and the American colonies. They consisted of lives of heroes, martyrs, and wonderful personages, stories of roguery and broad humor, of giants, ghosts, witches, and dreams, histories in verse, songs and ballads, theological tracts, etc. They emanated principally from the provincial press, and were hawked about the country by chapmen or peddlers. [Century Dictionary] 

無數這類型由省級印刷廠發行的小冊子傳閱於英國和美洲殖民地，它們是家喻戶曉的大衆讀物。這類書籍主要囊括了英雄、烈士、神祕人物的傳記，惡作劇和幽默故事，巨人、鬼魂和夢境傳奇，詩歌式的歷史記載，讚美禮拜的小冊子等。它們都是由地方書商或小販沿街叫賣。【世紀詞典】