Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

channel op
     
         /chan'l op/ (Or "{op}", "chan op", "chop") Someone
        who is endowed with privileges on a particular {IRC}
        {channel}.  These privileges include the right to {kick}
        users, to change various status bits and to make others into
        CHOPs.
     
        The full form, "channel operator", is almost never used.
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1998-01-08)