What does "CHAPS" mean????

Question

i was in cadets for a year and i looked at my yearbook (i quite cadets) and came across: "when someone hits you,you shout/yell chaps ": (something like that)

Answer 1

The word "Chaps" means - heavy leather trousers without a seat, worn over ordinary trousers by ranch hands to protect their legs.

I'm pretty sure "chaps or chap" are used to refer to a "fellow or fellows" as well.

Answer 2

A chap can be a cadet. A chap can also be a rugby player - that would justify this question here.