I've always thought it was because the pieces of potatoe are "chipped" off the whole. We were always told to "chip the spuds" (what we call potatoes) when we were having "chips" for tea !
The British call "french fries" "Chips".
French fries (American Term) are called chips in the UK. If you ask for chips in the US you will get what the British refer to as crisps.
chips (like in fish 'n chips)
Chips.
They use the word chips when Americans say French fries (potatoes).
Chips
I believe it is England.
They are called French fries because "to french something" is to cut it into thin slices. The French themselves don't call their fries "French".
We call them chips because there basically chips of a potato. Similarly what you call chips or potato chips we call crisps because you fry them to a crisp... If anything you Americans should call your "fries" chips because they are chips and your "potato chips" crisps because there fried to a crisp! +++ Also [French] Fries are usually cut thinner than British chips, so are not quite the same thing.
"une portion de frites" is "one order of fries" (French fries or chips for the British.)
"des frites" means "French fries' in American English, "chips" in British English.
We call them 'chips' in other countries they are known as 'fries' or 'French fries' the confusion arises in America, American 'chips' are what the British call 'crisps' a very thin slice of potato deep fried until crisp and golden.