CHESSOM Chessom (ches'sum), n. [Connected with O.E. chessil, chesil, A. Sax. ceosel, gravel, pebbles, sand.] A kind of sandy and clayey earth. Halliwell. The tender chessom and mellow earth is the best, being mere mould. Bacon. One who Chess-player (ches'plá-ér), n. plays chess; one skilled in the game of chess. Chess-tree (ches'tre), n. Naut. a piece of wood bolted perpendicularly on the side, to confine the clews of the main-sail. Chessylite (ches'si-lit), n. [From Chessy, a town near Lyons, in France, where the mineral occurs, and Gr. lithos, a stone.] Same as Azurite, 1. Chest (chest), n. [A. Sax. cyste, North. E. and Sc. kist, from L. cista, Gr. kiste, a chest, a box.] 1. A box of considerable size, made of wood or other material. Specifically2. In com, a case in which certain kinds of goods, as tea, indigo, &c., are packed for transit; hence, the quantity such a chest contains.-3. A coffin. He is now dead and nailed in his chest. Chaucer. 4. The trunk of the body from the neck to the belly; the thorax.-Chest of drawers. See ᎠᎡᎪᎳᎬᎡ . Chest (chest), v.t. 1. To deposit in a chest; to hoard.-2. To place in a coffin. We chested our late commander. E. Terry. Cheste, n. [A. Sax. cedst, strife.] Debate; quarrel; strife; enmity. The sinne of contumelie or strif and cheste.' Chaucer. Chested (chest'ed), a. Having a chest of this or that kind: used chiefly in composition; as, broad-chested, narrow-chested. Chesteine, Chesteyn, n. [0. Fr. chastaigne, L. castanea.] The chestnut-tree or its fruit. Chaucer. Chester (ches'tér). A town. See CASTER. Chesterfield (ches'ter-feld), n. A kind of top-coat, named after the polished Earl of Chesterfield. Chest Chest-founder (chest'found-ér), n. foundering (which see). Chest-foundered (chest'found-erd), a. Suffering under chest-foundering: said of a horse. Chest-foundering (chest'found-ér-ing), n. A disease in horses. It is a rheumatic affection of the muscles of the chest and fore-legs, impeding both respiration and the motion of the limbs. In Chest-measurer (chest'mezh-ur-ér), n. med. an instrument for determining the mobility of the chest. It is a sort of spring, which, when applied to the walls of the chest, measures the modifications of its diameters, and indicates, by the motion of the index hand on a dial, any movement of respiration to the hundredth of an inch. Chestnut (ches'nut), n. [For chesten-nut, from O.E. chesteine, chesteyne, &c., and nut, from O. Fr. chastaigne (Mod. Fr. châtaigne), from L. castanea, the chestnut-tree, from Gr. kastanon, a chestnut (the fruit), from Castana in Pontus, where this tree abounded.] 1. The seed or nut of the chestnuttree (Castanea vesca). It is inclosed in a prickly pericarp, which contains two or more seeds.-2. The tree itself or its timber. 3. The colour of the husk of a chestnut; a reddish-brown colour. His hair is of a good colour.-An excellent colour; your chestnut was ever the only colour. Shak. Chestnut (ches'nut), a. Being of the colour of a chestnut; of a reddish-brown colour. His chestnut curls clustered over his open brow. Disraeli. Chestnut-tree (ches'nut-tre), n. Castanea Chestnut (Castanea vesca). resca, a tree, nat. order Corylaceæ, which produces the chestnut. Probably a native 453 of Asia Minor, it has long been cultivated in Europe, and was introduced into England perhaps by the Romans. It is one of our most ornamental large trees, growing freely in Britain, producing its flowers in July and its fruit (which is fully matured in Devonshire and even farther north) in the autumn. The chestnuts of commerce are imported from Spain and Italy, and the tree is often called the Spanish chestnut. The timber is not so highly prized as that of the oak, and is more valuable when young than when old. See CASTANEA. Cheston (ches'ton), n. [Perhaps from a resemblance to the chestnut.] A species of plum. Chest-rope (chest'rop), n. Naut. a long boat-rope or warp. E. H. Knight. Chest-saw (chest'sa), n. A kind of handsaw without a back. E. H. Knight. Chetah (che'ta), n. [Native name, meaning spotted.] The Felis jubata, or hunting leopard of India. Owing to the greater length of its limbs it exceeds the ordinary leopard in height. It has its specific name (jubata, crested or maned) from a short mane-like crest of hairs passing from the back of the head to the shoulders. When used for hunting it is hooded and placed in a car. When a herd of deer is seen, its keeper places its head in the proper direction and removes its hood. It slips from the car, and approaching its prey in a stealthy manner, springs on it at one bound. A variety is found in Africa, but it is put to no use. Chettik (chet'tik), n. [Native name.] 1. A tree of Java, the Strychnos Tieute, yielding a very virulent poison.-2. The poison got from this tree, and known by the name of Upas Tieute. It owes its properties to its strychnine, which is an active poison, causing tetanic spasms. It is more powerful than the poison obtained from the upas-tree, with which it must not be confounded. Chetvert (chet' vèrt), n. [After a Russian general of that name.] A Russian grain measure, equal to 0-7218 of an imperial quarter, or 5 77 bushels. Chevachie, n. [0. Fr. chevauchie, from cheval, a horse.] An expedition with cavalry; in a wider sense, any military expedition. Chaucer. Chevage (che'vāj), n. A sort of poll-tax; chiefage (which see). Cheval (she-val), n. pl. Chevaux (she-vō). [Fr.] A horse; cavalry.-In composition, a support or frame; as, a cheval-glass (which see).-A cheval, on each side so as to command any intermediate space. Troops are arranged à cheval when they command two roads, as the British army at Waterloo, which being posted at the apex of two roads, commanded that between Charleroi and Brussels as well as that to Mons. The Western Powers will assuredly never permit Russia to place herself à cheval between the Ottoman Empire and Persia. Times newspaper. Cheval-de-frise (she-val'de-frēz). 1. See CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE.-2. A kind of trimming. Cheval-glass (she-val'glas), n. A swing looking-glass mounted on a frame, and large enough to reflect the whole figure. Chevalier (shev-a-ler), n. [Fr., from cheval, a horse. See CAVALRY, CAVALIER.] 1. A horseman; a knight; a cavalier. Mount, chevaliers, to arms! Shak. 2. In her. a horseman armed at all points.3. A member of certain orders of knighthood; as, the Chevalier de St. George.-4. In ornith. the Totanus glottis or green-shank (which see).-Chevalier d'industrie, one who gains a living by dishonest means; a sharper; a swindler; a thief. Chevaster (she-vas'tèr). Same as Chevestre. Chevauchement (she-vosh-mon), n. [Fr., from chevaucher, to ride on horseback, and this from cheval, a horse, pl. chevaux.] In surg. the riding of one bone over another after fracture, giving rise to shortening of the limb. Chevaux-de-frise (she-võ'de-frēz), n. pl. [Fr. cheval, a horse, pl. chevaux, and Frise, Friesland, because said to have been first employed at the siege of Gröningen, in that province, against the enemy's cavalry. ] Pieces of timber traversed with wooden spikes, pointed with iron, 5 or 6 feet long, or the whole may be of iron, used to defend a passage, stop a breach, form an obstacle to the advance of cavalry, &c. In the following extract the word seems to be rather loosely applied to spikes on the top of a wall. These staircases received light from sundry win CHEVIOT dows placed at some distance above the floor, and looking into a gravelled area bounded by a high brick wall, with iron chevaux-de-frise at the top. Dickens. Chevaux-de-frise. Cheve, v.i. [0. Fr. chevir, to come to an end. See CHEVISANCE.] To come to an agreement or conclusion. Yvel mote he Chaucer. cheve' ill may he end. Cheven (chev'en), n. [Fr. chevesne, from chef, head.] A river fish, the chub. Sir T. Browne. To shiver. Chaucer. Chever, v.t. Cheverilt (shev'er-il), n. [O.Fr. chevrel, chevral, Fr. chevreau, a kid, dim. of chèvre, a goat, from L. capra.] A soft pliable leather made of kid-skin: used figuratively in the extract. Here's a wit of cheveril, that stretches from an inch Shak. narrow to an ell broad. Cheverilt (shev'èr-il), a. 1. Made of cheveril. A cheveril glove.' Shak.-2. Yielding; pliable, as kid-leather. 'Your soft cheveril conscience.' Shak. Cheverilize + (shev'èr-il-iz), v.t. To make as pliable as kid-leather. I appeal to your own, though never so much, chev erilized consciences, my good calumniators. Mountagu. Cheveron (shev'èr-on). Same as Chevron. Cheveronny (shev-ér-on'ni), a. In her. a term used of an escutcheon divided into several equal parts, by lines in the form of the chevron. It is termed cheveronny of the number of pieces. Chevesaile, tn. A necklace or collar. Chau cer. Chevestre, Chevêtre (she-vestr, she-vätr). n. [Fr. chevestre, chevêtre, from L. capistrum, a kind of bridle, from caput, the head.] In surg. a bandage for the head, used in cases of fracture or luxation of the lower jaw. Written also Chevaster. Chevet (she-va), n. [Fr., from L. caput, the head, so named from its situation in the church.] In arch. a variety of the apse Chevet, east end of Westminster Abbey. almost exclusively confined to French Gothic churches. The chevet is always inclosed by an open screen of columns on the ground floor, and opens into an aisle, which again always opens into three or more apsidal chapels, thus affording a variety of perspective and a play of light and shade unrivalled by any other arrangement. Chevetain, tn. A chieftain: occurring also as Cheventain, Chivetain. Cheville (she-vel), n. [Fr.] In music, the peg of a violin, guitar, or other stringed instrument. Cheviot (che'vi-ot), n. A variety of sheep, taking their name from the well-known CHEVIOT Border mountain range, noted for their large carcass and valuable wool, which qualities, combined with a hardiness second only to that of the black-faced breed, constitute them the most valuable race of mountain sheep in the kingdom. The fleece weighs from 3 to 4 lbs., and the carcass of ewes varies from 12 to 16 lbs. per quarter, that of wethers from 16 to 20 lbs. Cheviot (ché'vi-ot), a. A term applied to the sheep named after the Cheviot Hills; as, a cheviot sheep. See the noun. Chevisance (shev'i-zans), n. [0.Fr. chevir, to come to the end, to perform, to prevail, from chef, the head, whence chief, achieve.] 1. Achievement; deed; performance; enterprise accomplished. Fortune the foe of famous chevisance. Spenser.-2. In law, (a) a making of contracts; a bargain. An unlawful agreement or contract. (c) An agreement or composition, as an end or order set down between a creditor and his debtor. Chevrette (shev-ret), n. [Fr., from chèvre, L. capra, a goat.] A machine used in raising guns or mortars into their carriages. Chevron, Cheveron (shev'run), n. [Fr., a rafter, from chèvre, L. capra, a goat, applied to rafters because they are reared on end like butting goats. In L. capreoli (from caper, a hegoat) are props, stays.] 1. In her, an honourable Chevron. ordinary, representing two rafters of a house meeting at the top, and having the form shown in the cut. A chevronel is half its breadth; a couple-close, one-fourth.-2. In arch. a variety of fret ornament common in Norman architecture. Called also the Zigzag and Dancette. 3. Milit. the distinguishing Chevron Moulding. marks on the sleeves of non-commissioned officers' coats, to mark the rank of the bearer. -Chevron bones, in anat. the V-shaped subvertebral arches in the caudal region of reptiles. Chevroned (shev'rund), a. Bearing a chevron; resembling a chevron in form. Watchet cloth of silver chevroned all over with lace.' B. Jonson. Chevronel (shev'run-el), n. In her. an ordinary half the breadth of a chevron. Chevron-work (shev'run-werk), n. In arch, see CHEVRON. Chevrotain (shev'rō-tan), n. [Fr., from chèvre, a goat.] The Tragulus pygmæus, family Tragulidae, a species of musk-deer found in the forests of South India and the Asiatic Islands. It is small, timid, and shy; and mild and gentle in captivity. Chevy (chev'i), v. t. To knock or force about; to chivey (which see). One poor fellow was chevied about among the casks in the storm for ten minutes. Times newspaper. Chew (cho), v.t. [Written also chaw, a form seldom now used; from A. Sax. ceowan, to chew; cog. with D. kaauwen, G. kauen, to chew. Jaw, jowl, chaps, chops are from the same root.] 1. To bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food, to prepare it for deglutition and digestion.-2. Fig. to ruminate on in the thoughts; to meditate on. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swal lowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. Bacon. -To chew the cud, to ruminate, and fig. to ruminate or meditate on. 'Chew'd the thriceturned cud of wrath.' Tennyson. Chew (cho), v.i. 1. To perform the act of chewing; to champ.-2. Fig. to meditate; to ruminate. Pope. Old politicians chew on wisdom past. Chew (cho), n That which is chewed; that which is held in the mouth at once; a quid of tobacco. Chewet! (chiet), n. A kind of pie made of chopped substances. Chewett (cho'et), n. [Fr. chouette, an owl, a daw, a jackdaw. Cotgrave.] An impertinent chatterer. Peace, chewet, peace.' Shak Chewing-ball (chö'ing-bal), n. A medicinal ball for a horse, composed of the wood Chiaroscuro, Chiaro-oscuro (ki-ä'rō-skö'ro, ki-a'ro-os-kö'ro), n. [It., lit. clear-obscure, from L. clarus, clear, and obscurus, obscure; Fr. clair-obscur.] In the fine arts, that department of painting which relates to light and shade; the art of judiciously distributing the lights and shadows in a picture. According to the common acceptation of the term in the language of Art, chiaro-oscuro means not only the mutable effects produced by light and shade, but also the permanent differences in brightness and darkness. Fairholt Chiasm (ki'azm), n. [Gr. chiasma, from chiazo, to make the figure of the Greek letter x] In anat. the central body of nervous matter formed by the junction and decussation of the optic nerves. Chiasma (ki-az'ma), n. Same as Chiasm. Chiastolite (ki-as'tō-lit), n. [Gr. chiastos, decussated (see CHIASM), and lithos, a stone.] A mineral of the cyanite family, generally regarded as a variety of andalusite, and also called Macle, whose crystals are arranged in a peculiar manner. The form of the crystals is a four-sided prism, whose bases are rhombs, differing little from squares. But each crystal, when viewed at its extremities or on a transverse section, is obviously composed of two very different substances, and its general aspect is that of a black prism, passing longitudinally through the axis of another prism which is whitish. The term macle, as the name of a distinct species, applies to the whitish prisms only. It is a silicate of aluminium (Al2O3. SiO2). Chiastre (ki'as-tr), n. [Gr. chiazo, to form the Greek letter x, chi.] In surg, a bandage for stopping hemorrhage from the temporal artery, shaped like a cross or the Greek letter x Chibbal + (chib'bal), n. [See CIBOL] A small sort of onion; cibol. Beau. & Fl. Chibouque, Chibouk (shi-buk), n. [Turk.] A Turkish pipe, sometimes adorned with precious stones. 'The long chibouque's dissolving cloud.' Byron. Chic (shek), n. [Fr., from G. geschick, skill.] 1. In the fine arts, the faculty of producing effective works with rapidity and ease; great skill. 2. Easy elegance; grace.-3. Adroitness; cunning; knowingness. Chica, Chicha (che'ka, che'cha), n. [Sp.] 1. A red colour made use of in tropical South America by some Indian tribes to stain their skins. It is extracted by boiling the leaves of Bignonia Chica in water, decanting the decoction, and allowing it to settle and cool, when. a red matter falls down which is formed into cakes and dried. 2. A fermented liquor or beer used by the natives of South America, derived from Indian corn. Chica (che'ka), n. An old Spanish dance, of which the fandango and cachuca may be regarded as modern modifications. Chicane (shi-kan'), n. [Fr., from Per. chaugan, the game of golf played on horseback; polo. In the middle ages the game became popular in Byzantium, and was introduced thence into Languedoc under the name of chicane. The series of senses are: first the game, then the act of keeping one's own side; lastly, the manœuvres, &c.] The art of protracting a contest or discussion by the use of evasive stratagems or mean and unfair tricks and artifices; trickery; sophistry; chicanery. To cut short this chicane I propound it fairly to Berkeley. your own conscience. CHICK-PEA Give me but virtuous actions, and I will not quibble and chicane about the matter. Chesterfield. Chicaner (shi-kān'èr), n. [Fr. chicaneur.] One who chicanes or uses shifts, turns, evasions, or undue artifices, in litigation or disputes; a caviller; an unfair disputant. This is the way to distinguish a logical chicaner from a man of reason. Lockt. Chicanery (shi-kan'èr-i), n. [Fr. chicanerie.] Chicane; mean or unfair artifices to perplex a cause and obscure the truth; trickery; sophistry. 'Irritated by perpetual chicanery.' Hallam. 'Manors got by rapine and chicanery. Lamb.-SYN. Trickery, sophistry, quibbling, stratagem, tergiversation. Chiccory (chik'o-ri), n. Chicory (which see). Chich, Chiche, a. [Fr. chiche, poor, niggardly, from L. ciccus, a trifle or thing of no value.] Niggardly; sparing. Chaucer. Chich (chich), n. [Fr. chiche, It. cece, L cicer, the chick-pea.] A dwarf pea. as Chick-pea (which see). Chiches, and the other pulses." B. Googe. Same Chicha (che'cha), n. [Sp.] 1. Same as Chica. 2. The seeds of Sterculia Chicha, a South American tree. Chichevache, n. [Fr., lit. a lean cow.] A starved cow, supposed to feed on patient wives. Lest chichevache you swalwe in hir entraille.' Chaucer. Chichling, Chichling-vetch (chich'ling. chich'ling-vech), n. Same as Chickling, Chickling-vetch. Chick (chik), v.i. [Perhaps from A. Sax. eith, a germ or sprout.] To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. [Provincial.] Chick (chik), n. [Shortened from chicken.] Same as Chicken. A corrup Chick-a-berry (chik'a-be-ri), n. tion of Chequer-berry, the fruit of the Gaul theria procumbens. [American.] Chickabiddy (chik'à-bid-di), n. A young chicken: also used as a pet name. [Provincial.] Chickadee (chik'a-dē), n. In America, a name given to the black-cap titmouse (Parus atricapillus) and to other allied birds, from their peculiar note. Chickaree (chik'a-rë), n. The Sciurus hudsonius, or American red squirrel, so called from its cry. Chicken (chik'en), n. [A. Sax. eicen, cycen, a chicken; cog. L.G. kiken, küken, Prov. G. küchen.] 1. A young fowl; particularly a young domestic fowl.-2. A person of tender years: generally used of females and as in the following quotation. 'Stella is no chicken.' Swift.-3. A child: used as a term of endearment. - Chicken hazard, a game at dice. See HAZARD. To count one's chickens before they are hatched, a proverbial expression meaning to anticipate too confidently the obtaining of something that one may never receive. Chicken-breasted (chik'en-brest-ed), a. Pigeon-breasted; having that form of breast resulting from a kind of malformation known as lordosis, or from carious disease or spinal weakness, in which the vertebral column is curved forwards, giving rise to projection of the sternum or breast-bone. Chicken-grape (chik'en-grap), n. An American species of the vine, the Vitis cordifolia, or heart-leaved vine; also termed Wintergrape. Chicken-hearted (chik'en-härt-ed), a. Having no more courage than a chicken; timid; cowardly. Chicken-pox (chik'en-poks), n. A mild contagious eruptive disease, generally appearing in children. Chicket + (chik'et), n. A fastening. The green shutters and chickets are offensive. Ford. Chickling (chik'ling), n. [Dim. of chick.] A small chick or chicken. Chickling, Chickling - vetch (chik'ling. chik'ling-vech), n. [Dim. of chich, the chickpea.] A vetch or pea of the genus Lathyrus (L. sativus), extensively cultivated in the south of Europe for its seed, which is eaten in the same way as the chick-pea, but is said to be of superior quality. Chick-pea (chik'pē), n. [For chich-pen. See CHICH, n.] The popular name of Cicer arietinum. It grows wild around the shores of the Mediterranean and in many parts of the East, producing a short puffy pod with one or generally two small netted seeds with two swellings on one side. It is much used in olios in Spain, and is an important article in French cookery. When roasted it is the common parched pulse of the East. CHICK-WEED Chick-weed (chik'wēd), n. [That is, chickenweed; in Scotland it is often called chickenwort or chucken-wort.] The popular name of Stellaria media, one of the most common weeds in cultivated and waste ground everywhere in Britain, flowering throughout the year. It has a procumbent more or less hairy stem, with ovate pointed leaves, and many small white flowers. It is much used for feeding cage-birds, which are very fond both of its leaves and seeds.-Mouse-ear chickweed, the popular name of various species of Cerastium.-Winter-green chickweed, the common name of Trientalis europœa. Chicoraceous (chik-o-rā'shus), a. Cichoraceous (which see). Chicory (chik'o-ri), n. [Fr. chicorée, L. cichorium, from Gr. kichōrion, chicory.] The popular name of Cichorium Intybus, a composite plant common in waste places in England, and extending through Europe and Asia as far as India. It has a fleshy tapering root, a stem from 1 to 3 feet high, with Chicory (Cichorium Intybus). spreading branches and lobed and coarsely toothed leaves. The flowers are bright blue. The roots have been extensively employed as a substitute for coffee, or to mix with coffee, being roasted and ground for this purpose. Chicory is also cultivated for feeding cattle with its leaves, and the blanched leaves are sometimes used as a salad. Chide (chid), v.t. pret. chid [chodet]; part. chid, chidden. [A. Sax. cidan, to chide; connections unknown.] 1. To scold; to reprove; to rebuke: with a personal subject and object; as, to chide one for his faults; to chide one for his delay. Almost chide God for making you that countenance you are.' Shak. Last chidden for being too slow.' Shak. Chid her and forbid her to speak.' Tennyson. But Kirk was only chid for it; and it was said that he had a particular order for some military execu. tions, so that he could only be chid for the manner of it. Bp. Burnet. 2. To find fault with; to take exception to: with a thing as object, especially when regarded as an agent or having activity. *Chid his truant youth.' Shak. When we have chid the hasty-footed time for parting us.' Shak. 'Tis not because the ring they ride, And Lindesay at the ring rides well, If 'tis not fill'd by Rosabelle. Sir W. Scott. 3. To fret or murmur against, as waves do; to chafe. The sea that chides the banks of England.' Shak. [Rare.]-4. To drive or impel by chiding. Find him, my lord of Warwick; chide him hither. Shak. 5. To strike by way of punishment or admonition. 'Chidden by the dainty hand.' Tennyson.-SYN. To blame, rebuke, reprove, scold, censure, reproach. Chide (chid), v.i. To scold; to clamour; to find fault; to contend in words of anger: sometimes followed by with. And Jacob was wroth and chode with Laban. Gen. xxxiii. 36. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. Ex. xvii. 2. Shak. What a beast was I to chide at him. Fig. to fret; to chafe. 'As doth a rock against the chiding flood.' Shak. Chide (chid), n. Murmur; gentle noise. 455 'The chide of streams.' Thomson. [Rare and poetical.] Shak. Chider (chid'ér), n. One who chides, clamours, reproves, or rebukes. I love no chiders, sir. Chideress+ (chid'èr-es), n. chides. Chidestert (chid'ster), n. Chaucer. A female who A female scold. Chiding (chid'ing), n. 1. A scolding; a rebuke; reproof.-2. Noise or fury of wind, waves, streams, &c. The churlish chiding of the winter's wind.' Shak. The chidings of the headlong brook.' Mallet. [Rare and poetical.]-3. In hunting, the sound made by hounds in full cry. They bay'd the bear With hounds of Sparta: never did I hear Such gallant chiding. Shak. Chidingly (chid'ing-li), adv. In a scolding or reproving manner. Chief (chef), a. [O.Fr. chef, chief (Fr. chef), the head, top, chief; from L. caput, the head.] 1. Highest in office, authority, or rank; principal; as, a chief priest; the chief butler. Gen. xl. 9. Among the chief rulers many believed on him. Jn. xii. 42. 2. Principal or most eminent, in any quality or action; such that others (things, persons, particulars of any kind) are inferior or subordinate; most important; at the head; leading; main: a word of very extensive appli cation. The hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. Ezra ix. 2. 3. Intimate; near; close. In this sense still used in Scotland; as, they are very chief wi' ane anither. A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28. This word, though in its own meaning a superlative, was formerly sometimes used in the superlative degree. Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. Shak. Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen. 1 Sam. xxi. 7. -Chief-tenant, a tenant in capite, or tenantin-chief; one who holds land directly from the crown by honourable personal services. See TENANT. SYN. Principal, leading, main, first, paramount, supreme, capital, prime, vital, especial, essential, great, grand, emi nent. Chief (chef), n. 1. The person highest in authority, the head or head man; as, the chief of the foreign office. Specifically, (a) a military commander; the person who heads an army. 1 Chr. xi. 6. (b) The principal person of a clan, tribe, family, or congregation, &c. Num. iii. 24. Hail to the chief who in triumph advances! Sir W. Scott. Used collectively for more than one person. I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them heads over you. Deut. i. 15. 2. The principal part or portion; the most or largest part of one thing or of many. The people took of the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed. 1 Sam. xv, 21. Chief. 3. In her. the head or upper part of the escutcheon, from side to side, cut off horizontally by a straight line, and containing properly a third part of the dimensions of the escutcheon. In blazoning arms, the chief is generally last mentioned and described. In chief, is the term used when something__borne is in this part.-To hold land in chief, to hold land directly from the sovereign by honourable personal services. -Chief, Commander, Leader, Head. Chief, lit. the head, applied to one who occupies the highest rank in military or civil matters, as an Indian chief, a military chief, the chief of a department in the civil service; commander, one who issues commands to or has power over, applied to the head of an army or fleet, as commander of the army in the East, commander of the Mediterranean fleet; leader, the head of a party or faction, or one who conducts some special undertaking the leader of the House of Commons, the leader of the Conservative party, the leader of the storming party; head, applied to the chief of a tribe or family or profession, as the head of the House of Cavendish, the head of the bar. Chief (chef), adv. Chiefly. Thomson. [Rare.] Chiefage, Chevaget (chef'āj, chē'vāj), n. CHIGRE [See CHIEF.] A tribute by the head; a polltax. Chief-baron (chef'bar-on), n. The president of the court of exchequer. Chiefdom (chef'dum), n. Sovereignty. Spenser. [Rare.] Chiefess (chef'es), n. A female chief. Carver. [Rare.] Chief-justice (chef'jus-tis), n. The presid- And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Milton. 2. For the most part; mostly; as, his estates were chiefly situated in Scotland. - SYN. Principally, mainly, especially, eminently. Chief-rent (chef'rent), n. The same as Quitrent (which see). Chiefriet (chef'ri), n. A rent or duty paid to the lord paramount. Chieftain (chef'tan or chef'tin), n. [0. Fr. chevetaine, chieftaine, &c., from L.L. capitaneus, from caput, the head; so that it is really the same word as captain.] A captain, leader, or commander; a chief; the head of a troop, army, or clan. When used absolutely, mostly designating the chief of a Highland clan. A chieftain to the Highlands bound, Cries, Boatman, do not tarry.' Campbell. Chieftaincy, Chieftainship (chef'tan-si or chef'tin-si, chef'tan-ship or chef'tin-ship), n. The rank, dignity, or office of a chieftain. Chieftainess (chef'tan-es or chef'tin-es), n. A female chieftain. Miss Sedgwick. Chieftainryt (chef'tan-ri or chef'tin-ri), n. Chieftainship. Johnson. Chieftyt (chef'ti), n. Headship. Bp. Hall. Chiel, Chield (chel, cheld), n. [A corruption of child, which formerly was often addressed to a young man. See CHILDE.] A young man; a fellow: used either in a good or bad sense. Buirdly chiels an' clever hizzies.' Burns. [Scotch.] Chaucer. Chierete, Chiertee,tn. Charity; tenderness; affection. Chievancet (chēv'ans), n. [0. Fr. chevance, from chevir, to accomplish. See CHEVISANCE.] An unlawful bargain; traffic in which money is extorted as discount. Bacon. Chieve, Chivet (chēv), v. i. See CHEVE. Chiff-chaff (chif'chaf), n. The white-throat (Sylvia Rufa), one of our song-birds, so called from its note. Chiffonnier (shif'o-ner), n. [Fr., a chiffonnier, a rag-picker, from chiffon, a rag.] 1. A kind of small side-board; a kind of cabinet. 2. A rag-picker: in this sense used by English writers merely as a French word; the fem. is chiffonnière. Chiffre (shef'r), n. [Fr.] In music, figures to denote the harmony, as in figured bass. Chignon (shë-nyon), n. [Fr., the nape of the neck, a chignon.] The term applied to ladies' back hair when raised and folded up, usually round a pad of more or less size, in a sort of roll on the back part of the head and nape of the neck. Chigoe (chig'ō), n. [Of West Indian or South American origin.] A very curious insect (Pulex or Sarcopsylla penetrans) closely resembling the common flea, but of more minute size, found in the West Indies and South America. It burrows beneath the skin of the foot, and soon acquires the size of a pea, its abdomen becoming distended 2 1 3 with eggs. If these eggs remain to be hatched beneath the skin great irritation and even troublesome sores are sure to result. The insect must be extracted entire, and with great care, as soon as its presence is indicated by a slight itching or tingling. Written also Chegoe, Chigre, Jigger, &c. Chigre, Chiggre (chig'ger), n. See CHIGOE. Chigoe (Pulex penetrans). 1, Male, nat. size. 2, Male, magnified. 3, Female, full of eggs (nat. size), as taken from a human toe. CHIKARA Chikara (chi-kä'ra), n. The Hindu name Chikary (shikʼa-ri), n. In the East Indies, Chilblain (chil'blan), n. [Chill, cold, and 456 squire; also applied to a knight: comp. some- The noble childe, preventing his desire, Child-great + (child'grat), a. Pregnant. Syl vester. Childhood (child'hyd), n. [Child, and suffix Chilblain (chil'blán), v.t. To afflict with And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, 2. A very young person of either sex: said properly of one somewhat older than an infant, yet scarcely old enough to be called a boy or girl or a youth. See CHILDHOOD. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things. 1 Cor. xiii. 11. 3. One who exhibits the character of a very young person; one of crude or immature knowledge, experience, judgment, or attainments; as, he is a mere child in these matters. Be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Eph. iv. 14. 4. Fig. one whose character is due to the influence of another, or that which is the product of something else; offspring; outcome. "Thou child of the devil. Acts xiii. 10. 'Be a child o' the time.' Shak. I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain. Shak. 5. pl. The descendants of a man, however remote; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.-6. pl. The inhabitants of a country; as, the children of Seir. 2 Chr. XXV. 11.-7. [Warwickshire provincial English.] A girl. A barne, a very pretty barne! A boy or a child, I wonder? Shak 8. See CHILDE. 'Child Rowland to the dark tower came.' Shak.- Children of Light, a name assumed by the early Quakers. Rev. Orby Shipley-Child's play, a trivial matter of any kind; anything easily accomplished or surmounted. No child's play was it nor is it!' Carlyle. · With child, pregnant. Gen. xvi. 11; xix. 36.-To get with child, to render pregnant.-To go with child, to be pregnant. Child + (child), v.i. To produce children; to bring forth offspring. They were two harlots and dwelled together in one house, and it chanced within two daies they childed both. Latimer. Childt (child), v. t. To bring forth, as a child. 'A little mayde, the which ye childed. Spenser. Childaget (child'āj), n. Childhood; infancy. Child-bearing (child'bar-ing), a. Bearing The act of producing or bringing forth children; parturition.Past child-bearing.' Addison. Child-bed (child'bed), n. The state of a woman bringing forth a child or being in labour; parturition. Women in child-bed.' Arbuthnot. Child-birth (child'bêrth), n. The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labour. Pains of child-birth.' Jer. Taylor. Child-crowing (child'kro-ing), n. A variety of croup, known as spasmodic croup; laryngismus stridulus. Childe (child), n. A noble youth; a youth, especially one of high birth, before he was advanced to the honour of knighthood; a As morning shews the day. children. Many a childing mother then, Milton. Southey. 2. Fig. productive; fruitful. The childing Childish-mindedness (child'ish-mind'ed- The state or quality of being childish; puerility; sim- Speak thou, boy; Perhaps thy childishness will move him more Child-killing (child'kil-ing), n. Infanticide. Destitute of chil- Childlike (child'lik),a. Resembling a child Childish humour Children (children), n. pl. of child (which Child-wife (child' wif), n. 1. A wife with Childwitt (child'wit), n. [Child, and wite, a Chili (chil'i), n. See CHILLI Chiliaedron, Chiliahedron (kil'i-a-e"dron, If a man speaks of a chiliaedron, or a body of a CHILLNESS Chiliagon (kil'i-a-gon), n. [Gr. chilia, a thou sand, and gonia, a corner.] A plane figure of a thousand angles and sides. Chiliahedron. See CHILIAEDRON. Chiliarch (kil'i-ärk), n. [Gr. chilioi, a thousand, and archos, a chief.] The military commander or chief of a thousand men. Chiliarchy (kil’i-ar-ki), n. A body consisting of a thousand men. "The chiliarchies or regiments of the Lamb.' Dr. H. More. Chiliasm (kil'i-azm), n. (Gr. chilioi, a thousand.] Same as Millennium. Chiliast (kil'i-ast), n. [Gr. chilioi, a thousand.] A Millenarian. Chiliastic (kil-i-as'tik), a. Relating to the millennium; millenarian. Chilifactive (kil-i-fak ́tiv). See CHYLIFAC TIVE. Chill (chil), n. [A. Sax. cele, cyle, cold, chill, The early chill of poverty never left my bones. Tennyson. He is chill to praise or blame. Chill (chil), v.i. To shiver. Priam's aged joints with chilled fear did shake. 2. Dejected; discouraged.-3. Hardened by Chill-hardening (chil'hard-n-ing), n. A Chilling (chil'ing), p. and a. 1. Cooling: If you come out of the sun suddenly into the chile, there followeth a chillness or shivering in al the body. Bacon CHILLY (b) An unpleasant degree of coldness; as, the chillness of the air. Chilly (chil'i), a. [Chill, and term. -y.] 1. Experiencing the sensation of chilliness; chilled. I'm as chilly as a bottle of port in a hard frost. Colman the younger. 2 Disagreeably cold; chilling; cold, so as to produce the sensation of shivering. A chilly sweat bedews My shuddering limbs, Chilly (chilli), adv. [Chill, and term. -ly.] In a chill or chilly manner; coldly; with coldness; as, to receive a person chilly. Chilly, n. See CHILLI. F. Philips. Chilognath (ki'log-nath), n. A member of the order Chilognatha Chilognatha (ki-log'na-tha), n. pl. Same as Cheilognatha. Chiloma (ki-lo'ma), n. [Gr. cheiloma, a lip.] In zool. the upper lip or muzzle of a quadruped, when tumid and continued uninterruptedly from the nostril, as in the camel. Chilopod (kilo-pod), n. Same as Cheilopod. Chilopoda (ki-lop'o-da), n. pl. Same as Cheilopoda Chiltern Hundreds (chil'tern hun'dredz), n. A hilly district of Buckinghamshire which has belonged to the crown from time immemorial. To this district a nominal office is attached, and the person holding it is called the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. As a member of the House of Commons, not in any respect disqualified, cannot resign his seat directly, any member who wishes to resign may accomplish his object by accepting the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, which, being held to be a place of honour and profit under the crown, vacates the seat. This nominal place is in the gift of the chancellor of the exchequer, and the recipients usually resign immediately after appointment. Chimæra, Chimera (ki-mera), n. [L. chimara, from Gr. chimaira, a chimæra.] 1. In class. myth, a fire-breathing monster, the Chimera-Lycian terra-cotta, Brit. Museum. fore parts of whose body were those of a lion, the middle of a goat, and the hinder of a dragon; supposed to represent a volcanic mountain in Lycia, whose top was the resort of lions, the middle that of goats, and the foot that of serpents. Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire.' Milton. Hence2. In ornamental art, a fantastic assemblage of animal forms so combined as to produce one complete but unnatural design. Such chimæras are frequently seen on antique engraved gems and bas-reliefs.-3. A vain or idle fancy; a creature of the imagination, composed of contradictions or absurdities that can have no existence except in thought. 'Chimeras, crotchets, Christmas solecisms.' Tennyson.-4. In ich. a genus of cartilaginous fishes. The only known species is the Chimera monstrosa, which inhabits the northern seas, and is sometimes called king The sely tonge may wel ringe and chimbe. Chaucer. Chime (chim), n. [O.E. chimbe, chymbe, a cymbal, a shortening of an old form chymbale for cymbal, from L. cymbalum, a cymbal; whence also Dan. kime, Sw. kimba, to chime, to toll.] 1. The harmonious sound of bells or musical instruments. Shakspere uses it of sounds produced from a viol (Pericles, i. 1, 85). 'Instruments that made melodious chime.' Milton. We have heard the chimes at midnight. Shak. 2. A set of bells (properly five or more) tuned to a musical scale, and struck by hammers, not by the tongues. Some chimes consist of from forty to fifty bells, the smaller bells rising in chromatic succession, while the lower are generally limited to such fundamental basses as the tonic, dominant, and subdominant.-3. Correspondence of sounds in general, sometimes of proportion or relation. 'Chimes of verses. Cowley.-4. An arrangement of bells and strikers in an organ or musical box, &c., operated in harmony with the reeds, pipes, or tongues.- Altar chime, a set of three small bells mounted in a stand, and used for ringing by hand in the Roman Catholic church service. Chime (chim), v.i. 1. To sound in consonance, rhythm, or harmony; to give out harmonious sounds; to accord; as, to hear bells chime. The song of those who chime for ever, After the chiming of the eternal spheres. Keats. 2. To agree; to suit; to harmonize: often with in with. 'Set her sad will no less to chime with his.' Tennyson. Everything chimed in with such a humour. Irving. 3. To express agreement: with in with. He not only sat quietly and heard his father railed at, but often chimed in with the discourse. Arbuthnot. 4. To jingle or clatter. See CHIMBE. Chime (chim), v.t. 1. To cause to sound harmoniously, as a set of bells; to strike with or move to measure. With lifted arms they order every blow, And chime their sounding hammers in a row. Dryden. 2. To utter harmoniously; to recite with rhythmical flow. Let simple Wordsworth chime his childish verse. Byron. Chime, Chimb (chim), n. [A. Sax. cim, a base, cimbing, a joining; but the meaning appears better in D. kim, Sw. kim, kimb, the edge of a cask, G. kimme, edge, brim.] 1. The edge or brim of a cask or tub, formed by the ends of the staves projecting beyond the head.-2. In ship-building, that part of the water-way or thick plank at the side left above the deck and hollowed out to form a water-course. Called also Chine. Chime, Chimb (chim), v.t. Naut. to make a Chimer (chim'ér), n. chime or chimb in. Chimera. See CHIMERA. One who chimes. Chimere (shi-mer), n. [Fr. simarre, It. zimarra.] The upper robe, to which the lawn sleeves of a bishop are attached. In the English Church the chimere is of black satin. English prelates of the Roman Catholic Church wear one of purple silk; carChimeric (ki-mer'ik), a. Same as Chimer dinals of scarlet. ical. Chimerical (ki-mer'ik-al), a. Merely imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wildly or vainly conceived; having or capable of having no existence except in thought; as, chimerical notions or projects. Chimerical fancies fit for a shorn head.' Bp. Hall. -SYN. Imaginary, fanciful, fantastic, wild, unfounded, vain, deceitful, delusive. Chimerically (ki-mer'ik-al-li), adv. In a chimerical manner; wildly; vainly; fancifully; fantastically. Chimeridæ. See CHIMERIDE. Chimerize (kim'èr-iz), v.i. To entertain, raise, or create chimæras or wild fancies. 'Sophistical dreams and chimerizing ideas of shallow imaginative scholars.' Trans. of Boccalini, 1626. [Rare.] Chiminage (shim'in-aj), n. [Fr. chemin, a way or road. ] In old law, a toll for passage through a forest. Chimistry (kim'is-tri), n. An old form of chemistry. Chimla, Chimlie (chimla, chim'li), n. A chimney-Chimla-lug,chimla-neuk,chimlacheek, chimney-side; the hearth. [Scotch.] While frosty winds blaw in the drift Ben to the chimla-lug. Burns. CHIMNEY-TOP Chimney (chim'ni), n. [Fr. cheminée, L.L. caminata, a room with a chimney, a chimney, from L. caminus, a furnace, a flue, from Gr. kaminos, an oven, furnace, perhaps from kaiō, kao, to burn.] 1. An erection, generally of stone or brick, containing a passage by which the smoke of a fire or furnace escapes to the open air; a chimneystalk; a flue; also the funnel of a steam-engine. When several built chimneys are carried up together the mass is called a stack of chimneys. The part of the chimney carried above the roof for discharging the smoke is the chimney-shaft, and the upper part of the shaft is the chimney top or head. The manner in which a chimney and fireplace are often connected together, and the names of the different parts, are shown in the cut under FIREPLACE. 2. A fireplace or hearth. Elizabethan Chinney, East Barsham, Norfolk. The fire which the Chaldeans worshipped for a god is crept into every man's chimney. Raleigh. 3. A furnace. And his feet like to latoun as in a brenning chymeney.' Rev. i. 15, Wickliffe's Trans.-4. A tall glass to surround the flame of a lamp to protect it and promote combustion. Chimney-board (chim'ni-bord), n. A fireboard (which see). Chimney-can, Chimney-pot (chim'ni-kan, chim’ní-pot), n. A cylindrical pipe of earthenware, brick, or sheet-metal placed on the top of chimneys to prevent smoking. Chimney-cap (chim'ni-kap), n. 1. An abacus or cornice forming a crowning termination for a chimney.-2. A device for rendering more certain the expulsion of smoke from a chimney by presenting the exit aperture always to leeward by a rotatory device; a cowl. Chimney-corner (chim'ni-kor-ner), n. The corner of a fireplace, or the space between the fire and the sides of the fireplace; hence, the fireside, or a place near the fire. Chimneyed (chim'nid), a. Having a chimney or chimneys; furnished with chimneys. Where chimney'd roofs the steep ridge cope. There smoked an ancient town. 7. Baillie. Chimney-flue (chim'ni-flü), n. The aperture or passage in the wall of a building leading from the fireplace to the top of the chimney, for conveying away the smoke. Chimney-head (chim'ni-hed), n. That por tion of the flue raised above the roof. Lo! as great Sol scatters his first fire-handful, tipping the hills and chimney-heads with gold, Hérault is at great Nature's feet. Carlyle. Chimney-hook (chim'ni-hök), n. A hook Chimney-jamb (chim'ni-jam), n. One of for holding pots and kettles over a fire. the two vertical sides of a fireplace opening. Chimney - money (chim'ni-mun-i), n. Hearth-money, a crown duty formerly paid for each chimney in a house. Chimney-piece (chim'ni-pes), n. The assemblage of architectural dressings around the open recess constituting the fireplace in a room. Gwilt. Chimney-pot. See CHIMNEY-CAN. Chimney-shaft (chim'ni-shaft), n. See under CHIMNEY, 1. Chimney-stack (chim'ni-stak), n. A group of chimneys carried up together. Chimney-stalk (chim'ni-stak), n. A long chimney, such as that connected with manufactories, for the purpose of producing a stronger draught and carrying off the smoke from the surrounding buildings, &c. Chimney-swallow (chim'ni-swol-lo), n. The Hirundo rustica, one of our most common species of swallows. Chimney sweep, Chimney - sweeper (chim'ni-swep, chim'ni-swep-ér), n. One whose occupation is to sweep chimneys, that is, to clean them of the soot that adheres to their sides. Chimney-top (chim'ni-top), n. The top of a chimney; a chimney-head. |