List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Chemitype, kemi′-tīp, n. the chemical process for obtaining casts in relief from an engraving.—n. Chem′itypy.

Chemosh, kē′mosh, n. the national god of Moab: any false god.

Chenille, she-nēl′, n. a thick, velvety-looking cord of silk or wool (and so resembling a caterpillar), used in ornamental sewing and manufactured trimmings. [Fr. chenille, a caterpillar—L. canicula, a hairy little dog, canis, a dog.]

Cheque, Check, chek, n. a money order on a banker payable at demand.—ns. Cheque′-book, a book containing cheque forms given by a bank to its customers; Cheq′uer, Check′er, a chess-board: alternation of colours, as on a chess-board: (pl.) draughts: chess-men.—v.t. to mark in squares of different colours: to variegate: interrupt.—adjs. Cheq′uered, Check′ered, variegated, like a chess-board: varying in character.—ns. Cheq′uer-work, any pattern having alternating squares of different colours; Blank′-cheque, a cheque signed by the owner, but without having the amount to be drawn indicated; Cross′-cheque, an ordinary cheque with two transverse lines drawn across it, which have the effect of making it payable only through a banker. [See Check.]

Cherimoyer, cher-i-moi′er, n. a Peruvian fruit resembling the custard-apple.—Also Chirimoy′a.

Cherish, cher′ish, v.t. to protect and treat with affection: to nurture, nurse: to entertain in the mind.—n. Cher′ishment. [Fr. chérir, chérissant—cher, dear—L. carus.]

Cheroot, she-rōōt′, n. a cigar not pointed at either end. [Fr. cheroute, representing the Tamil name shuruttu, a roll (Colonel Yule).]

Cheroot. See Shaya-root.

Cherry, cher′i, n. a small bright-red stone-fruit: the tree that bears it.—adj. like a cherry in colour: ruddy.—ns. Cherr′y-brand′y, a pleasant liqueur made by steeping Morello cherries in brandy; Cherr′y-lau′rel, the common English name for the Cerasus Lauro-Cerasus of Asia Minor; Cherr′y-pepp′er, a West Indian species of Capsicum; Cherr′y-pie, a pie made of cherries; the common heliotrope; Cherr′y-pit, a game which consists in throwing cherry-stones into a small hole; Cherr′y-stone, the hard seed of the cherry. [A.S. ciris—L. cerasus—Gr. kerasos, a cherry-tree, said to be so named from Cerasus, a town in Pontus, from which the cherry was brought.]

Cherry, cher′i, v.t. (Spens.) to cheer.

Chersonese, ker′so-nēz, n. a peninsula, [Gr. cher-sonēsos—chersos, land, dry land, nēsos, an island.]

Chert, chėrt, n. a kind of quartz or flint: hornstone.—adj. Chert′y, like or containing chert. [Prob. Celt.; Ir. ceart, a pebble.]

Cherub, cher′ub, n. a winged creature with human face, represented as associated with Jehovah, esp. drawing his chariot-throne: a celestial spirit: a beautiful child:—pl. Cher′ubs, Cher′ubim, Cher′ubims.—adjs. Cheru′bic, -al, Cherubim′ic, angelic.—adv. Cheru′bically.—n. Cher′ubin (Shak.), a cherub. [Heb. k’rūb, pl. k’rūbīm.]

Cherup, cher′up, v.t. to urge on by chirruping.

Chervil, chėr′vil, n. an umbelliferous plant, cultivated as a pot-herb, and used in soups and for a garnish, &c., in the same manner as parsley. In Scotland the plant is commonly called Myrrh. [A.S. cerfille (Ger. kerbel)—L. cærefolium—Gr. chairephyllon.]

Chesil, chez′il, n. gravel: shingle: bran.—Also Chisel. [A.S. cisil.]

Chess, ches, n. a game of skill for two persons or parties, played with figures or 'pieces,' which are moved on a chequered board.—n. Chess′-board, the board on which chess is played.—n.pl. Chess′-men, pieces used in chess. [Fr. échecs; It. scacchi; Ger. schach. Orig. from Pers. sháh, a king.]

Chess, ches, n. one of the parallel planks of a pontoon-bridge—generally in pl.

Chessel, ches′el, n. a cheese mould or vat.

Chest, chest, n. a large strong box: the part of the body between the neck and the abdomen, the thorax.—adj. Chest′ed, having a chest: placed in a chest.—n. Chest′-note, in singing or speaking, a deep note, the lowest sound of the voice. [A.S. cyst; Scot. kist—L. cista—Gr. kistē.]

Chestnut, Chesnut, ches′nut, n. a nut or fruit enclosed in a prickly case: the tree that bears it: (slang) a stale joke or story.—adj. of a chestnut colour, reddish-brown. [O. Fr. chastaigne—L. castanea—Gr. kastanon, from Castana, in Pontus.]

Chetvert, chet′vert, n. a Russian dry measure, equal to 8 chevteriks.

Cheval-de-frise, she-val′-de-frēz, n. a piece of timber armed with spikes, used to defend a passage or to stop cavalry:—pl. Chevaux-de-frise (she-vō′-).—n. Cheval′-glass, a large glass or mirror supported on a frame. [Fr.,—cheval, horse; Frise, Friesland.]

Chevalier, shev-a-lēr′, n. a cavalier: a knight: a gallant. [Fr.,—cheval—L. caballus, a horse.]

Chevelure, shev′e-lūr, n. a head of hair: a periwig: the nebulous part of a comet. [Fr.,—L. capillatura—capillus, hair.]

Cheven, chev′en, n. the chub.—Also Chev′in.

Cheverel, chev′ėr-el, n. a kid: soft, flexible leather made of kid-skin.—adj. like kid leather, pliable. [Fr. chevreau, a kid—chèvre; L. capra, a goat.]

Chevesaile, chev′e-sāl, n. an ornamental collar of a coat. [O. Fr. chevesaile—chevece, the neck.]

Cheviot, chē′vi-ot, or chev′i-ot, n. a hardy breed of short-wooled sheep reared on the Cheviot Hills: a cloth made from their wool.

Chevisance, shev′i-zäns, n. (Spens.) achievement, performance. [Fr.,—chevir, to accomplish; chef, the head, the end.]

Chevron, shev′ron, n. a rafter: (her.) the representation of two rafters of a house meeting at the top: the V-shaped band of worsted braid or gold lace worn on the sleeve of a non-commissioned officer's coat.—adjs. Chevrone′, Chev′roned. [Fr. chevron (Sp. cabrio), a rafter—L. capreolus, dim. of caper, a goat.]

Chevy, chev′i, Chivy, chiv′i, n. a cry, shout: a hunt.—v.t. to chase. [Perh. from 'Chevy Chase,' a well-known ballad relating a Border battle.]

Chew, chōō, v.t. to cut and bruise with the teeth: to masticate: (fig.) to meditate, reflect.—n. action of chewing: a quid of tobacco.—ns. Chew′et, a kind of pie or pudding made of various ingredients mixed together; Chew′ing-gum, a preparation made from a gum called chicle, produced by a Mexican tree allied to the india-rubber tree, sweetened and flavoured.—Chew the cud, to masticate a second time food that has already been swallowed and passed into the first stomach: to ruminate in thought. [A.S. ceówan; Ger. kauen; cf. Jaw.]

Chewet, chōō′et, n. a chough; (Shak.) a chatterer. [Fr. chouette, an owl.]

Chian, kī′an, adj. pertaining to Chios in the Ægean Sea.

Chianti, kē-an′ti, n. a red wine of Tuscany.

Chiaroscuro, kyär′o-skū-ro, n. distribution or blending of light and shade, the art of representing light in shadow and shadow in light.

Chiasm, kī′azm, n. (anat.) a decussation or intersection, esp. that of the optic nerves—also Chias′ma.—n. Chias′mus (rhet.), contrast by parallelism in reverse order, as 'Do not live to eat, but eat to live.'—adj. Chias′tic. [Gr. chiasma, two lines crossed as in the letter X.]

Chiaus, chows, n. Same as Chouse.

Chibouk, Chibouque, chi-book′, n. a long straight-stemmed Turkish pipe for smoking. [Turk.]

Chic, shēk, n. style, fashion: adroitness.—adj. stylish, 'up to the mark.' [Fr.]

Chica, chē′ka, n. an orange-red dye-stuff, obtained by boiling the leaves of the Bignonia, a climber of the banks of the Cassiquiare and the Orinoco. [Native name.]

Chicane, shi-kān′, v.i. to use shifts and tricks.—v.t. to deceive.—n. a trick or artifice.—ns. Chicā′ner, one who chicanes: a quibbler; Chicā′nery, trickery or artifice, esp. in legal proceedings: quibbling; Chicā′ning, quibbling. [Fr. chicane, sharp practice at law, most prob. from Late Gr. tzykanion, a game at mall, tzykaniz-ein, to play at mall—Pers. tchaugān, a crooked mallet.]

Chiccory. See Chicory.

Chich, chich, n. a dwarf pea. Same as Chick-pea.

Chicha, chēch′a, n. a South American liquor fermented from maize. [Haytian.]

Chick, chik, n. the young of fowls, esp. of the hen: a child, as a term of endearment.—ns. Chick′a-bid′dy, Chick′-a-did′dle, terms of endearment addressed to children; Chick′en, the young of birds, esp. of the hen: its flesh: a child: a faint-hearted person; Chick′en-haz′ard, a game at dice (see Hazard); Chick′en-heart, a cowardly person.—adj. Chick′en-heart′ed.—ns. Chick′en-pox, a contagious febrile disease, chiefly of children, and bearing some resemblance to a very mild form of small-pox; Chick′ling, a little chicken; Chick′weed, a species of stitchwort, and one of the most common weeds of gardens and cultivated fields—for making poultices, and for feeding cage-birds, which are very fond of its leaves and seeds.—Mother Carey's chicken, a sailor's name for the Stormy Petrel; No chicken, one no longer young. [A.S. cicen; cf. Dut. kieken, Ger. küchlein.]

Chick-pea, chik′-pē, n. a dwarf species of pea cultivated for food in the south of Europe and other places. [Fr. chiche—L. cicer, and Pea.]

Chicory, Chiccory, chik′o-ri, n. a plant whose long carrot-like root is ground to adulterate coffee.—Also Suc′cory. [Fr. chicorée—L. cichorium, succory—Gr. kichōrion.]

Chide, chīd, v.t. to scold, rebuke, reprove by words: to be noisy about, as the sea.—v.i. to make a snarling, murmuring sound, as a dog or trumpet:—pr.p. chid′ing; pa.t. chid, (obs.) chōde; pa.p. chid, chidd′en.—ns. Chid′er (Shak.), a quarrelsome person; Chid′ing, scolding. [A.S. cídan.]

Chief, chēf, adj. head: principal, highest, first: (Scot.) intimate.—adv. chiefly.—n. a head or principal person: a leader: the principal part or top of anything: (her.) an ordinary, consisting of the upper part of the field cut off by a horizontal line, generally made to occupy one-third of the area of the shield.—ns. Chief′-bar′on, the President of the Court of Exchequer; Chief′dom, Chief′ship, state of being chief: sovereignty; Chief′ery, an Irish chieftaincy: the dues paid to a chief; Chief′ess, a female chief; Chief′-jus′tice (see Justice).—adj. Chief′less, without a chief or leader.—adv. Chief′ly, in the first place: principally: for the most part.—ns. Chief′ry, a rent paid to the supreme lord: a chief's lands; Chief′tain, the head of a clan: a leader or commander:—fem. Chief′tainess; Chief′taincy, Chief′tainship; Chief′tainry.—In chief (her.) means that the charge is borne in the upper part of the shield: applied to holding land directly from the sovereign: at the head, as commander-in-chief. [Fr. chef—L. caput, the head.]

Chield, chēld, n. (Scot.) a lad, a young man.—Also Chiel. [A form of Child.]

Chiff-chaff, chif′-chaf, n. a small species of Warbler, so called from the resemblance of its notes to the syllables which form its name.

Chiffon, shif′ong, n. any merely ornamental part of a woman's dress.—n. Chiffonier′, an ornamental cupboard: (Fr.) a rag-picker. [Fr.—chiffe, rag.]

Chiffre, shē′fr, n. (mus.) a figure used to denote the harmony. [Fr.]

Chig, chig, v.t. (prov.) to chew.—n. a chew, quid.

Chignon, shē′nyong, n. a general term for the long back-hair of women, when gathered up and folded into a roll on the back of the head and neck. [Fr., meaning first the nape of the neck, the joints of which are like the links of a chain—chaînon, the link of a chain—chaîne, a chain.]

Chigoe, chig′ō, Chigre, Chigger, chig′ėr, n. a species of flea of the West Indies, the female of which buries itself beneath the toe-nails, and produces troublesome sores. [Fr. chique.]

Chikara, chi-kä′rä′, n. a four-horned goat-like antelope of Bengal.

Chikara, chik′a′rä, n. a Hindu musical instrument of the violin class.

Chilblain, chil′blān, n. a localised inflammation of the skin which occurs in cold weather on hands and feet, more rarely on ears and nose. [Chill and Blain.]

Child, chīld, n. an infant or very young person: (Shak.) a female infant: one intimately related to one older: expressing origin or relation, e.g. child of the East, child of shame, child of God, &c.: a disciple: a youth of gentle birth, esp. in ballads, &c.—sometimes Childe and Chylde: (pl.) offspring: descendants: inhabitants:—pl. Chil′dren.—ns. Child′-bear′ing, the act of bringing forth children; Child′bed, the state of a woman brought to bed with child; Child′birth, the giving birth to a child: parturition; Child′-crow′ing, a nervous affection with spasm of the muscles closing the glottis.—adj. Child′ed (Shak.), possessed of a child.—n. Child′hood, state of being a child: the time of one's being a child.—adjs. Child′ing (Shak.), fruitful, teeming; Child′ish, of or like a child: silly: trifling.—adv. Child′ishly.—ns. Child′ishness, Child′ness, what is natural to a child: puerility.—adjs. Child′less, without children; Child′-like, like a child: becoming a child: docile: innocent.—n. Child′-wife, a very young wife.—Child's play, something very easy to do: something slight.—From or Of a Child, since the days of childhood.—Second childhood, the childishness of old age.—With child, pregnant, e.g. Get with child, Be or Go with child. [A.S. cild, pl. cild, later cildru, -ra. The Ger. equivalent word is kind.]

Childermas-day, chil′dėr-mas-dā, n. an anniversary in the Church of England, called also Innocents' Day, held 28th December, to commemorate the slaying of the children by Herod. [Child, Mass, and Day.]

Chiliad, kil′i-ad, n. the number 1000: 1000 of anything.—ns. Chil′iagon, a plane figure having 1000 angles; Chil′iahēdron, a solid figure having 1000 sides; Chil′iarch, a leader or commander of a thousand men; Chil′iarchy, the position of chiliarch; Chil′iasm, the doctrine that Christ will reign bodily upon the earth for 1000 years; Chil′iast, one who holds this opinion. [Gr.,—chilioi, 1000.]

Chill, chil, n. coldness: a cold that causes shivering: anything that damps or disheartens.—adj. shivering with cold: slightly cold: opposite of cordial.—v.i. to grow cold.—v.t. to make chill or cold: to blast with cold: to discourage.—adj. Chilled, made cold: hardened by chilling, as iron.—n. Chill′iness.—adj. Chill′ing, cooling, cold.—n. Chill′ness.—adj. Chilly, that chills: somewhat chill.—Take the chill off, to give a slight heat: to make lukewarm. [A.S. cele, ciele, cold. See Cold, Cool.]

Chilli, chil′li, n. the seed pod or fruit of the capsicum, extremely pungent and stimulant, and employed in sauces, mixed pickles, &c.; when dried and ground, forms the spice called Cayenne pepper. [The Mexican name.]

Chillum, chil′um, n. the part of a hookah containing the tobacco and charcoal balls: a hookah itself: the act of smoking it. [Hind. chilam.]

Chiltern Hundreds. See Hundreds.

Chime, chīm, n. the harmonious sound of bells or other musical instruments: agreement of sound or of relation: harmony: (pl.) a set of bells.—v.i. to sound in harmony: to jingle: to accord or agree: to rhyme.—v.t. to strike, or cause to sound in harmony: to say words over mechanically.—Chime in, to join in, in agreement; Chime in with, to agree, or fall in with. [M. E. chimbe, prob. O. Fr. cymbale—L. cymbalum, a cymbal.]

Chime, Chimb, chīm, n. the rim formed by the ends of the staves of a cask: (naut.) a hollowed or bevelled channel in the waterway of a ship's deck. [Cog. with Dut. kim, Ger. kimme, edge.]

Chimer, shim′er, Chimere, shi-mēr, n. the upper robe worn by a bishop, to which lawn sleeves are attached. [O. Fr. chamarre; Sp. zamarra, chamarra, sheepskin.]

Chimera, Chimæra, ki-mē′ra, n. a fabulous, fire-spouting monster, with a lion's head, a serpent's tail, and a goat's body: any idle or wild fancy: a picture of an animal having its parts made up of various animals: a genus of cartilaginous fishes, often ranked along with the sharks and rays.—adjs. Chimer′ic, -al, of the nature of a chimera: wild: fanciful.—adv. Chimer′ically. [L.,—Gr. chimaira, a she-goat.]

Chimney, chim′ni, n. a passage for the escape of smoke or heated air from a furnace: in houses, that part of the passage which is built above the roof: anything of a like shape.—ns. Chim′ney-can, or -pot, a cylindrical pipe of earthenware or other material placed at the top of a chimney to increase the draught; Chim′ney-cor′ner, in old chimneys, the space between the fire and the wall forming the sides of the fireplace: fireside, commonly spoken of as the place for the aged and infirm; Chim′ney-piece, a shelf over the fireplace; Chim′ney-shaft, the stalk of a chimney which rises above the building; Chim′ney-Stack, a group of chimneys carried up together; Chim′ney-stalk, a very tall chimney; Chim′ney-swall′ow, the Hirundo rustica, a very common swallow: the chimney-swift; Chim′ney-sweep, Chim′ney-sweep′er, one who sweeps or cleans chimneys; Chim′ney-top, the top of a chimney.—Chimney-pot hat, a familiar name for the ordinary cylindrical hat of gentlemen. [Fr. cheminée—L. camīnus; Gr. kaminos, a furnace.]

Chimpanzee, chim-pan′zē, n. an African ape, the highest of the anthropoid or more man-like apes, belonging to the same genus as the gorilla. [West African.]

Chin, chin, n. the jutting part of the face below the mouth.—Up to the chin, deeply immersed. [A.S. cin; Ger. kinn, Gr. genys.]

China, chīn′a, n. fine kind of earthenware, originally made in China: porcelain.—ns. Chin′a-bark, a common name of cinchona bark (derived not from the empire of China, but from. Kina or Quina, the Peruvian name of cinchona—see Quinine); Chin′a-clay, a fine white clay used in making porcelain; Chin′a-grass (Bœhmeria nivea), a small shrubby-like plant, allied to the nettle, native to China; the fibre of this plant used for making ropes and cordage, and also in China for the manufacture of grass-cloth; Chin′a-ink (see Ink); Chin′aman, a native of China; Chin′a-root, the root-stock of a Chinese shrubby plant, formerly used in Europe medicinally, but still in the East as a remedy in rheumatic or syphilitic cases; Chin′a-rose, a name applied to several varieties of garden roses; Chin′a-shop, a shop in which china, crockery, &c. are sold; Chin′a-ware, porcelain-ware; Chinee′, a Chinaman.—adj. Chinese′, of or belonging to China.—China aster (see Aster).

Chinch, chinch, n. the bed-bug in America. [Sp.,—L. cimic-em.]

Chinchilla, chin-chil′la, n. a small rodent quadruped of South America, valued for its soft gray fur: the fur itself. [Sp.]

Chincough, chin′kof, n. a disease, esp. of children, attended with violent fits of coughing: whooping-cough. [For chink-cough; Scot. kink-host, Dut. kinkhoest. See Chink and Cough.]

Chine, chīn, n. the spine or backbone: a piece of the backbone and adjoining parts for cooking: a ridge, crest.—v.t. (Spens.) to break the back. [O. Fr. eschine, prob. from Old High Ger. scina, a pin, thorn.]

Chiné, shē-nā′, adj. mottled in appearance, the warp being dyed in different colours, or from threads of different colours twisted together. [Fr., lit. 'Chinese.']

Chine, chīn, n. a ravine. [A.S. cinu, a cleft.]

Chink, chingk, n. a cleft, a narrow opening.—v.i. to crack.—v.t. to fill up cracks.—adj. Chink′y, full of chinks. [Apparently formed upon M. E. chine, a crack—A.S. cinu, a cleft.]

Chink, chingk, n. the clink, as of coins.—v.i. to give forth a sharp sound. [From the sound.]

Chink, chingk, n. a gasp for breath.—v.i. to gasp—the northern form Kink. [Cf. Dut. kinken, to cough; Ger. keichen, to gasp.]

Chinkapin, ching′ka-pin, n. the dwarf chestnut, a native of the United States.—Also Chin′capin. [Ind.]

Chinook, chin-ōōk′, n. a trader's jargon, consisting of words from French and English, as well as Chinook and other Indian tongues.

Chintz, chints, n. a highly glazed printed calico, with a pattern generally in several colours on a white or light-coloured ground. [Orig. pl. of Hind, chint, spotted cotton-cloth.]

Chip, chip, v.t. to chop or cut into small pieces: to hew: of chickens, to break the shell of the egg in hatching: to pare away the crust of bread, &c.: to bet:—pr.p. chip′ping; pa.p. chipped.—n. a small piece of wood or other substance chopped off: (slang) a sovereign.—n. Chip′-hat, a cheap kind of hat, made of what is popularly called Brazilian grass, but really consisting of strips of the leaves of a palm (Chamærops argentea) imported from Cuba.—adj. Chip′py, abounding in chips: dry as a chip: seedy from an overdose of liquor.—Chip in, to supply one's part.—A chip of the old block, one with the characteristics of his father. [M. E. chippen, to cut in pieces. Conn. with Chop.]

Chipmuck, Chipmunk, chip′muk, -mungk, n. a kind of squirrel, common in North America.

Chippendale, chip′pen-dāl, adj. applied to a light style of drawing-room furniture, after the name of a well-known cabinet-maker of the 18th century. The name is also applied to a style of book plates.

Chiragra, kī-rag′ra, n. gout in the hand.—adjs. Chirag′ric, -al. [Gr.]

Chirimoya. See Cherimoyer.

Chirk, chėrk, v.i. (Scot.) to grate: to chirp or squeak. [A.S. cearcian, to creak.]

Chirl, chirl, v.i. to emit a low sound: to warble.—n. a kind of musical warble. [Scot., from the sound. See Chirr.]

Chirm, chėrm, v.i. to cry out: to chirp.—n. noise, din, hum of voices. [A.S. cirman, to cry out; cf. Dut. kermen.]

Chirognomy, kī-rog′nō-mi, n. the so-called art or science of judging character from the lines of the hand, palmistry.—adj. Chirognom′ic. [Gr. cheir, the hand, gnōmē, understanding.]

Chirograph, kī-rog-raf′, n. any written or signed document.—ns. Chirog′rapher, Chirog′raphist, one who professes the art of writing—-adj. Chirograph′ic—n. Chirog′raphy, the art of writing, or penmanship. [Gr. cheir, the hand, graphē, writing.]

Chirology, kī-rol′o-ji, n. the art of discoursing with the hands or by signs, as the deaf and dumb do.—n. Chirol′ogist, one who converses by signs with the hands. [Gr. cheir, the hand, logia, a discourse.]

Chiromancy. Same as Cheiromancy.

Chiropodist, kī-rop′o-dist, n. a hand and foot doctor: one who removes corns, bunions, warts, &c. [Gr. cheir, the hand, and pous, podos, the foot.]

Chirp, chėrp, n. the sharp, shrill sound of certain birds and insects.—v.i. to make such a sound; to talk in a happy and lively strain.—v.t. to cheer.—n. Chirp′er, a little bird: a chirping-cup.—adj. Chirp′ing, merry: cheering.—n. Chirp′ing-cup, a cup that cheers.—adj. Chirp′y, lively: merry. [From the sound.]

Chirr, chėr, v.i. to chirp, as is done by the cricket or grasshopper. [From the sound.]

Chirrup, chir′up, v.i. to chirp: to make a sound with the mouth to urge on a horse: to cheer up. [Lengthened form of Chirp, and then brought into connection with cheer up.]

Chirt, chėrt, n. a squeeze.—v.t. to squeeze. [Conn. with Chirr.]

Chirur′geon, Chirur′gery, Chirur′gical, old forms of Surgeon, Surgery, Surgical.—adv. Chirur′geonly (Shak.), in a manner becoming a surgeon. [Fr. chirurgien—Gr. cheirourgos—cheir, the hand, ergon, a work.]

Chisel, chiz′el, n. an iron or steel tool to cut or hollow out wood, stone, &c.: esp. the tool of the sculptor.—v.t. to cut, carve, &c. with a chisel: (slang) to cheat:—pr.p. chis′elling; pa.p. chis′elled.—adj. Chis′elled, cut with a chisel; (fig.) having sharp outlines, as cut by a chisel.—n. Chis′elling.—adj. Chis′el-shaped.—n. Chis′el-tooth, the scalpriform perennial incisor of a rodent. [O. Fr. cisel—L. cædĕre, to cut.]

Chisel, chiz′el, n. See Chesil.

Chisleu, chis′lū, n. the ninth month of the Jewish year, including parts of November and December. [Heb.]

Chit, chit, n. a note: an order or pass.—Also Chit′ty. [Hind. chitthi.]

Chit, chit, n. a baby: a lively or pert young child: contemptuously, a young woman or girl. [A.S. cith, a young tender shoot.]

Chitchat, chit′chat, n. chatting or idle talk: prattle: gossip. [A reduplication of Chat.]

Chitin, kī′tin, n. the substance which forms most of the hard parts of jointed footed animals.—adj. Chī′tinous. [Fr. chitine—Gr. chiton, a tunic.]

Chiton, kī′ton, n. the ancient Greek tunic: a genus of marine molluscs. [Gr. chitōn, a tunic]

Chitter, chit′ėr, v.i. (Scot.) to shiver.—n. Chitt′ering. [Cf. Chatter.]

Chitterling, chit′ėr-ling, n. the smaller intestines of a pig or other edible animal: a frill—prov. forms, Chidling, Chitling, Chitter. [Ety. dub.]

Chivalry, shiv′al-ri, n. the usages and qualifications of chevaliers or knights: bravery and courtesy: the system of knighthood in feudal times.—adjs. Chival′ric, Chiv′alrous, pertaining to chivalry: bold: gallant.—adv. Chiv′alrously.—n. Chiv′alrousness. [Fr. chevalerie—cheval—Low L. caballus, a horse.]

Chive, chīv, n. an herb like the leek and onion, with small, flat, clustered bulbs: a small bulb.—Also Cive. [Fr. cive—L. cæpa, an onion.]

Chivy, chiv′vy, or Chevy, chev′vy, n. a hunting cry.—v.t. to chase.—v.i. to scamper. [Prob. from the Border battle of Chevy Chase.]

Chlamys, klā′mis, n. an ancient Greek short cloak or mantle for men: a purple cope: a genus of phytophagous beetles. [Gr.]

Chloasma, klō-az′ma, n. a skin-disease marked by yellowish-brown patches. [Gr. chloē, verdure.]

Chlorine, klō′rin, n. a yellowish-green gas with a peculiar and suffocating odour.—ns. Chlō′ral, a limpid, colourless, oily liquid, with a peculiar penetrating odour, formed when anhydrous alcohol is acted on by dry chlorine gas; Chlō′ralism, the habit of using chloral, a morbid state induced by such; Chlō′rate, a salt composed of chloric acid and a base.—adj. Chlō′ric, of or from chlorine.—n. Chlō′ride, a compound of chlorine with some other substance, as potash, soda, &c.—v.t. Chlō′ridise, to convert into a chloride: (phot.) to cover with chloride of silver—also Chlō′ridate.—n. Chlorinā′tion, the process of getting gold, &c., out of ore by the use of chlorine.—v.t. Chlō′rinise, to combine or otherwise treat with chlorine—also Chlō′rinate.—ns. Chlō′rite, a mineral consisting of silica, alumina, &c., in variable proportions—it is of a green colour, rather soft, and is easily scratched with a knife; Chlō′rodyne, a patent medicine containing opium, chloroform, &c., used for allaying pain and inducing sleep; Chlō′roform, a limpid, mobile, colourless, volatile liquid, with a characteristic odour and a strong sweetish taste, used to induce insensibility.—adj. Chlō′roid, like chlorine.—ns. Chlōrom′eter, an instrument for measuring the bleaching powers of chloride of lime; Chlōrom′etry, the process of testing the decolouring power of any compound of chlorine; Chlō′rophyl, the ordinary colouring matter of vegetation, consisting of minute soft granules in the cells; Chlorō′sis, properly green-sickness, a peculiar form of anæmia or bloodlessness, common in young women, and connected with the disorders incident to the critical period of life.—adjs. Chlōrot′ic, pertaining to chlorosis; Chlō′rous, full of chlorine.—Chloric acid, a syrupy liquid, with faint chlorine colour and acid reaction. [Gr. chlōros, pale-green.]

Chobdar, chob′dar, n. a frequent attendant of Indian nobles, and formerly also of Anglo-Indian officials of rank, carrying a staff overlaid with silver. [Pers.]

Chock, chok, v.t. to fasten as with a block or wedge.—n. a wedge to keep a cask from rolling: a log.—adjs. Chock′-full, Choke′-full, quite full; Chock′-tight, very tight. [See Choke.]

Chocolate, chok′ō-lāt, n. a preparation of the seeds of Theobroma cacao, made by grinding the seeds mixed with water to a very fine paste: a beverage made by dissolving this paste in boiling water.—adj. chocolate-coloured, dark reddish-brown: made of or flavoured with chocolate. [Sp. chocolate; from Mex. chocolatl, chocolate.]

Chode, chōd, an obsolete pa.t. of Chide.

Choice, chois, n. act or power of choosing: the thing chosen: alternative: preference: the preferable or best part.—adj. worthy of being chosen: select: appropriate.—adjs. Choice′-drawn (Shak.), selected with care; Choice′ful (Spens.), making many choices, fickle.—adv. Choice′ly, with discrimination or care.—n. Choice′ness, particular value: excellence: nicety.—Hobson's choice, the alternative of a thing offered or nothing, from Hobson, a Cambridge carrier and innkeeper, who insisted on lending out the horse nearest the stable door, or none at all.—Make choice of, to select; Take one's choice, to take what one wishes. [Fr. choix—choisir; cf. Choose.]

Choir, kwīr, n. a chorus or band of singers, esp. those belonging to a church: the part of a church appropriated to the singers: the part of a cathedral separated from the nave by a rail or screen.—v.i. (Shak.) to sing in chorus.—ns. Choir′-or′gan, one of the departments of a cathedral organ, standing behind the great-organ, having its tones less powerful, and more fitted to accompany the voice; Choir′screen, a screen of lattice-work, separating the choir from the nave, so as to prevent general access thereto, though not to interrupt either sight or sound.—adj. Chō′ral, belonging to a chorus or choir.—ns. Chōral′, Chorale′, a simple harmonised composition, with slow rhythm: a tune written for a psalm or hymn: in R.C. usage, any part of the service sung by the whole choir.—adv. Chō′rally, in the manner of a chorus: so as to suit a choir. [Fr. chœur—L. chorus—Gr. choros.]

Choke, chōk, v.t. to throttle: to suffocate: to stop or obstruct: to suppress.—v.i. to be choked or suffocated.—n. the action of choking.—n. Choke′-bore, the bore of a gun when narrowed at the muzzle so as to concentrate the shot: a shot-gun so bored.—v.t. to bore in such a way.—n. Choke′-cherr′y, a name given to certain nearly allied species of cherry, natives of North America, whose fruit, though at first rather agreeable, is afterwards astringent in the mouth.—adj. Choked, suffocated, clogged.—n. Choke′damp, the carbonic acid gas given off by coal which accumulates in coal-mines, and may suffocate those exposed to it.—adj. Choke′-full (see Chock-full).—ns. Chok′er, one who chokes: a neckerchief; Chok′ing, suffocation.—adj. smothering.—adj. Chok′y, tending to choke: inclined to choke.—Choke off, to put an end to, as if by choking; Choke up, to obstruct completely, to suffocate.—White choker, a white neckerchief worn by clergymen, &c. [Prob. from sound.]

Choky, chō′ki, n. a prison: a toll-station. [Hind.]

Cholæmia, Cholemia, ko-lē′mi-a, n. a morbid accumulation of the constituents of bile in the blood.—adj. Cholæ′mic. [Gr. cholē, bile, haima, blood.]

Cholagogue, kol′a-gog, n. a purgative causing evacuations of bile.—adj. Cholagog′ic. [Gr. cholē, bile, agōgos, leading.]

Choler, kol′ėr, n. the bile: (Shak.) biliousness: anger, irascibility.—adj. Chol′eric, full of choler: passionate. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. cholera—cholē, bile.]

Cholera, kol′ėr-a, n. a highly infectious and deadly disease characterised by bilious vomiting and purging.—adj. Cholerā′ic.—British cholera, an acute catarrhal affection of the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestines. [Gr. cholera.]

Cholesterine, ko-les′te-rin, n. a substance occurring abundantly in bile and biliary calculi, probably a monovalent alcohol.—adj. Cholester′ic. [Gr. cholē, bile, stereos, solid.]

Choliamb, kō′li-amb, n. a variety of iambic trimeter, having a trochee for an iambus as the sixth foot.—adj. Choliam′bic. [L.,—Gr. chōliambos—chōlos, lame, iambos, iambus.]

Choltry, chōl′tri, n. a khan or caravansary for travellers: a shed used as a place of assembly.—Also Choul′try. [Malayalam.]

Chondrify, kon′dri-fī, v.t. to convert into cartilage.—v.i. to be converted into cartilage.—n. Chondrificā′tion. [Gr. chondros, cartilage.]

Chondroid, kon′droid, adj. cartilaginous.—ns. Chon′drin, the proper substance of cartilage; Chondrī′tis, inflammation of cartilage; Chondrogen′esis, the formation of cartilage.—adj. Chondrogenet′ic.—ns. Chondrog′raphy, a description of the cartilages; Chondrol′ogy, the knowledge of the cartilages.

Chondropterygian, kon-drop-te-rij′i-an, adj. gristly-finned, belonging to the Chondropterygii, a group of fishes variously defined in different systems. [Gr. chondros, cartilage, pterygion, dim. of pteryx, a wing.]

Choose, chōōz, v.t. to take one thing in preference to another: to select.—v.i. to will or determine: to think fit:—pa.t. chōse; pa.p. chōs′en.—ns. Choos′er (Shak.), one who chooses; Choos′ing, choice: selection.—Cannot choose, can have no alternative.—Not much to choose between, each about equally bad.—Pick and choose, to select with care. [A.S. céosan, Dut. kiesen.]

Chop, chop, v.t. to cut with a sudden blow: to cut into small pieces: (Milton) to change: to exchange or barter: (Milton) to trade in: to bandy words.—v.i. to change about: to shift suddenly, as the wind.—n. a blow: a piece cut off: a slice of mutton or pork, containing a rib: a change: vicissitude.—ns. Chop′-house, a house where mutton-chops and beef-steaks are served: an eating-house; Chop′per, one who or that which chops: a cleaver; Chop′ping-knife, a knife for chopping or mincing meat.—adj. Chop′py, full of chops or cracks: running in irregular waves—also Chop′ping.—Chop and change, to buy and sell: to change about; Chop at, to aim a blow at; Chop in, to break in, interrupt; Chop logic, to dispute in logical terms: to bandy words; Chop up, to cut into small pieces.—A chop-logic (Shak.), a contentious fellow. [A form of Chap.]

Chop, chop, n. the chap or jaw, generally used in pl.: a person with fat cheeks: the mouth of anything, as a cannon.—adj. Chop′-fall′en, lit. having the chop or lower jaw fallen down: cast-down: dejected. [See Chap (3).]

Chop, chop, n. in China and India, an official mark or seal: a license or passport which has been sealed. [Hind. chhāp, seal, impression.]

Chopin, chop′in, n. an old French liquid measure containing nearly an English imperial pint: a Scotch measure containing about an English quart. [O. Fr. chopine, Old Dut. schoppe; Scot. chappin, Ger. schoppen, a pint.]

Chopine, chop-ēn′, chop′in, n. a high clog or patten introduced into England from Venice during the reign of Elizabeth. [Sp. chapin.]

Chopping, chop′ing, adj. stout, strapping, plump.

Chop-sticks, chop′-stiks, n.pl. two small sticks of wood, ivory, &c., used by the Chinese instead of knife and fork. [Chop, a corr. of kih, quick.]

Choragus, ko-rā′gus, n. in Athens, the person appointed to organise the chorus: the leader of a choir.—adj. Chorag′ic, pertaining to a choragus.—Choragic monument, a small temple on which were dedicated the tripods given in the Dionysian contests to the victorious chorus. [Gr. chorēgos—choros, chorus, and agein, to lead.]

Choral, Chorale. See Choir.

Chord, kord, n. (mus.) the simultaneous and harmonious union of sounds of a different pitch.—The Common chord is a note with its third and perfect fifth reckoned upwards. [Formed from Accord.]

Chord, kord, n. the string of a musical instrument: (fig.) of the emotions: (geom.) a straight line joining the extremities of an arc: a straight line joining any two points in the curve of a circle, ellipse, &c. [L. chorda—Gr. chordē, an intestine.]

Chorea, ko-rē′a, n. St Vitus's dance, a nervous disease causing irregular and involuntary movements of the limbs or face. [L.,—Gr. choreia, a dancing.]

Choree, kō′rē, n. a trochee.—Also Chorē′us. [L.,—Gr.]

Choreography. See Chorus.

Chorepiscopal, kō-re-pis′ko-pal, adj. pertaining to a local or suffragan bishop. [Gr. chōra, place.]

Choriamb, kō′ri-amb, n. a metrical foot of four syllables, the first and last long, the two others short.—adj. and n. Choriam′bic. [Gr. choriambos—choreios, a trochee, iambos, iambus.]

Chorion, kō′ri-on, n. the outer fœtal envelope: the external membrane of the seeds of plants:—pl. Chō′ria.—adj. Chō′roid. [Gr.]

Chorography, kō-rog′ra-fi, n. the description of the geographical features of a particular region.—adjs. Chorograph′ic, -al; Chorolog′ical.—ns. Chorol′ogist; Chorol′ogy, the science of the geographical distribution of plants and animals.

Chorus, kō′rus, n. a band of singers and dancers, esp. in the Greek plays: a company of singers: that which is sung by a chorus: the combination of several voices in one simultaneous utterance: the part of a song in which the company join the singer.—adj. Choreograph′ic.—ns. Choreog′raphy, Chorog′raphy, the notation of dancing.—adj. Chō′ric.—ns. Chō′rist, Chor′ister, a member of a choir. [L.,—Gr. choros, dance.]

Chose, Chosen. See Choose.

Chough, chuf, n. a kind of jackdaw which frequents rocky places on the seacoast. [A.S. céo; from the cry of the bird. See Caw.]

Choultry. See Choltry.

Chouse, chows, n. (obs.) a cheat: one easily cheated: a trick.—v.t. to cheat, swindle. [Prob. from Turk. chaush, a messenger or envoy.]

Chout, chowt, n. one-fourth part of the revenue extorted by the Mahrattas as blackmail: blackmail, extortion. [Hind. chauth, the fourth part.]

Chow-chow, chow′-chow, n. a mixture of food such as the Chinese use, e.g. preserved pickles.—adj. miscellaneous, mixed. [Pigeon-English.]

Chowder, chow′dėr, n. a dish made of a mixture of fish and biscuits. [Fr. chaudière, a pot.]

Chowry, chow′ri, n. an instrument used for driving away flies. [Hindi, chaunri.]

Chrematistic, krē-ma-tis′tik, adj. pertaining to finance.—n. Chrematis′tics, the science of wealth. [Gr.,—chrēma, a thing.]

Choy-root. See Shaya-root.

Chrestomathy, kres-tom′a-thi, n. a book of selections from foreign languages, usually for beginners.—adjs. Chrestomath′ic, -al. [Gr. chrēstos, useful, mathein, to know.]

Chrism, krizm, n. consecrated or holy oil: unction: confirmation: chrisom. (q.v.).—adj. Chris′mal, pertaining to chrism.—n. a case for containing chrism: a pyx: a veil used in christening.—ns. Chris′matory, a vessel for containing chrism; Chris′om, a white cloth laid by the priest on a child newly anointed with chrism after its baptism: the child itself.—Chrisom child (Shak.), a child still wearing the chrisom cloth: an innocent child. [O. Fr. chresme (Fr. chrême)—Gr. chrisma, from chriein, chrisein, to anoint.]

Christ, krīst, n. the Anointed, the Messiah.—ns. Christ-cross-row (kris′-kros-rō), the alphabet, from the use in horn-books of having a cross at the beginning; Chrīst's-thorn, a kind of prickly shrub common in Palestine and south of Europe, so called because supposed to have been the plant from which the crown of thorns was made.—v.t. Christen (kris′n), to baptise in the name of Christ: to give a name to.—ns. Chris′tendom, that part of the world in which Christianity is the received religion: the whole body of Christians; Chris′tening, the ceremony of baptism; Chrīst′hood, the condition of being the Christ or Messiah; Christ′ian, a follower of Christ: (coll.) a human being.—adj. relating to Christ or His religion: being in the spirit of Christ.—v.t. Christ′ianise, to make Christian: to convert to Christianity.—ns. Christ′ianism, Christian′ity, the religion of Christ: the spirit of this religion.—adjs. Christ′ian-like, Christ′ianly.—ns. Christ′ianness, Christ′liness.—adjs. Christ′less, Christ′ly.—Christian era, the era counted from the birth of Christ; Christian name, the name given when christened, as distinguished from the surname. [A.S. crist—Gr. Christos—and chriein, chrisein, to anoint.]

Christadelphian, kris-ta-del′fi-an, n. a member of a small religious body holding conditional immortality, denying a personal devil, &c.—sometimes called Thomasites from Dr John Thomas of Brooklyn (1805-71). [Lit. 'Brethren of Christ,' Gr. Christos, Christ, and adelphos, brother.]

Christmas, kris′mas, n. an annual festival, originally a mass, in memory of the birth of Christ, held on the 25th of December.—ns. Christ′mas-box, a box containing Christmas presents: a Christmas gift; Christ′mas-card, a card, more or less ornamented, sent from friend to friend at this season; Christ′mas-eve, the evening before Christmas; Christ′mas-rose, or -flow′er, the Helleborus niger, flowering in winter; Christ′mas-tree, a tree, usually fir, set up in a room, and loaded with Christmas presents. [Christ and Mass.]