The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 264

Chapter 2642,604 wordsPublic domain

3. A popular Moorish, Spanish, and South American dance, said to be the original of the fandango, etc.

Chicane <Xpage=247>

Chi*cane" (?) , n. [F., prob. earlier meaning a dispute , orig. in the game of mall (F. mail ), fr. LGr. <?/ the game of mall, fr Pers chaug\'ben club or bat; or possibly ultimated fr. L. ciccus a trible.] The use of artful subterfuge, designed to draw away attention from the merits of a case or question; -- specifically applied to legal proceedings; trickery; chicanery; caviling; sophistry.

Prior.

To shuffle from them by chicane . Burke.

To cut short this, I propound it fairly to your own canscience. Berkeley.

Chicane <Xpage=247>

Chi*cane" , v. i. [Cf. F. chicaner . See Chicane , n. ] To use shifts, cavils, or artifices.

Burke.

Chicaner <Xpage=247>

Chi*can"er (?) , n. [Cf. F. chicaneur .] One who uses chicanery.

Locke.

Chicanery <Xpage=247>

Chi*can"er*y (?) , n. [F. chicanerie .] Mean or unfair artifice to perplex a cause and obscure the truth; stratagem; sharp practice; sophistry.

Irritated by perpetual chicanery . Hallam.

Syn. -- Trickery; sophistry; stratagem.

Chicory <Xpage=247>

Chi"co*ry (?) , n. See Chicory .

Chich <Xpage=247>

Chich (?) , n. ; pl. Chiches (<?/) . [F. chiche , pois chiche , a dwarf pea, from L. cicer the chick-pea.] (Bot.) The chick-pea.

Chicha <Xpage=247>

Chi"cha (?) , n. [Sp.] See Chica .

Chichevache <Xpage=247>

Chiche"vache` (?) , n. [F. chiche lean + vache cow.] A fabulous cow of enormous size, whose food was patient wives, and which was therefore in very lean condition.

Chichling, Chichling vetch <Xpage=247>

Chich"ling (?) , Chich"ling vetch` (?) , n. [ Chich + -ling .] (Bot.) A leguminous plant ( Lathyrus sativus ), with broad flattened seeds which are sometimes used for food.

Chick <Xpage=247>

Chick (?) , v. i. [OE. chykkyn , chyke , chicken .] To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. Chalmers .

Chick <Xpage=247>

Chick , n. 1. A chicken.

2. A child or young person; -- a term of endearment.

Shak.

Chickabiddy <Xpage=247>

Chick"a*bid`dy (?) , n. A chicken; a fowl; also, a trivial term of endearment for a child.

Chickadee <Xpage=247>

Chick"a*dee` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A small bird, the blackcap titmouse ( Parus atricapillus ), of North America; -- named from its note.

Chickaree <Xpage=247>

Chick"a*ree` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The American red squirrel (Sciurus Hudsonius) ; -- so called from its cry.

Chickasaws <Xpage=247>

Chick"a*saws (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Chickasaw . (Ethnol.) A trible of North American Indians (Southern Appalachian) allied to the Choctaws. They formerly occupied the northern part of Alabama and Mississippi, but now live in the Indian Territory.

Chicken <Xpage=247>

Chick"en (?) , n. [AS. cicen , cyceun , dim. of coc cock; akin to LG. kiken , k\'81ken , D. Kieken , kuiken , G. k\'81chkein . See Cock the animal.] 1. A young bird or fowl, esp. a young barnyard fowl.

2. A young person; a child; esp. a young woman; a maiden. "Stella is no chicken ."

Swift.

Chicken cholera , a contagious disease of fowls; -- so called because first studied during the prevalence of a cholera epidemic in France. It has no resemblance to true cholera.

Chicken-breasted <Xpage=247>

Chick"en-breast`ed (?) , a. Having a narrow, projecting chest, caused by forward curvature of the vertebral column.

Chicken-hearted <Xpage=247>

Chick"en-heart`ed (?) , a. Timid; fearful; cowardly.

Bunyan.

Chicken pox <Xpage=247>

Chick"en pox" (?) . (Med.) A mild, eruptive disease, generally attacking children only; varicella.

Chickling <Xpage=247>

Chick"ling (?) , n. [ Chick + -ling .] A small chick or chicken.

Chick-pea <Xpage=247>

Chick"-pea` (?) , n. [See Chich .] 1. (Bot.) A Small leguminous plant ( Cicer arietinum ) of Asia, Africa, and the sounth of Europe; the chick; the dwarf pea; the gram.

2. Its nutritious seed, used in cookery, and especially, when roasted (parched pulse), as food for travelers in the Eastern deserts.

Chickweed <Xpage=247>

Chick"weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) The name of several caryophyllaseous weeds, especially Stellaria media , the seeds and flower buds of which are a favorite food of small birds.

Chicky <Xpage=247>

Chick"y (?) , n. A chicken; -- used as a diminutive or pet name, especially in calling fowls.

Chicory <Xpage=247>

Chic"o*ry (?) , n. [F. chicor\'82e , earlier also cichor\'82e , L. cichorium , fr. Gr. <?/ , <?/ , Cf . Succory .] 1. (Bot.) A branching perennial plant ( Cichorium Intybus ) with bright blue flowers, growing wild in Europe, Asia, and America; also cultivated for its roots and as a salad plant; succory; wild endive. See Endive .

2. The root, which is roasted for mixing with coffe.

Chide <Xpage=247>

Chide (?) , v. t. [ imp. Chid (?) , or Chode (Obs.) ; p. p. Chidden (?) , Chid ; p. pr. & vb. n. Chiding .] [AS. c\'c6dan ; of unknown origin.] 1. To rebuke; to reprove; to scold; to find fault with.

Upbraided, chid , and rated at. Shak.

2. Fig.: To be noise about; to chafe against.

The sea that chides the banks of England. Shak.

To chide hither , chide from , &or; chide away , to cause to come, or to drive away, by scolding or reproof.

Syn. -- To blame; rebuke; reprove; scold; censure; reproach; reprehend; reprimand.

Chide <Xpage=247>

Chide , v. i. 1. To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily.

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses. Ex. xvii. 2.

2. To make a clamorous noise; to chafe.

As doth a rock againts the chiding flood. Shak.

Chide <Xpage=247>

Chide , n. [AS. c\'c6d ] A continuous noise or murmur.

The chide of streams. Thomson.

Chider <Xpage=247>

Chid"er (?) , n. One who chides or quarrels.

Shak.

Chideress <Xpage=247>

Chid"er*ess , n. She who chides. [Obs.]

Chidester <Xpage=247>

Chide"ster (?) , n. [ Chide + -ster .] A female scold. [Obs.]

Chidingly <Xpage=247>

Chid"ing*ly (?) , adv. In a chiding or reproving manner.

Chief <Xpage=247>

Chief (?) , n. [OE. chief , chef , OF. chief, F. chef , fr. L. caput head, possibly akin to E. head . Cf. Captain , Chapter ] 1. The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the pricipal actio or agent.

2. The principal part; the most valuable portion.

The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed.1. Sam. xv. 21

3. (Her.) The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs.

In chief . (a) At the head; as, a commander in chief . (b) (Eng. Law) From the king, or sovereign; as, tenure in chief , tenure directly from the king.

Syn. -- Chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal; sachem; sagamore; sheik. -- Chief , chieftain , Commander , Leader . These words fluctuate somewhat in their meaning according to circumstances, but agree in the general idea of rule and authority. The term chief is now more usually applied to one who is a head man, leader, or commander in civil or military affairs, or holds a hereditary or acquired rank in a tribe or clan; as, the chief of police; the chief of an Indian tribe. A chieftain is the chief of a clan or tribe , or a military leader. A commander directs the movements of or has control over a body of men, as a military or naval force. A leader is one whom men follow, as in a political party, a legislative body, a military or scientific expedition, etc., one who takes the command and gives direction in particular enterprises.

Chief <Xpage=247>

Chief , a. 1. Highest in office or rank; principal; head. " Chief rulers."

John. xii. 42.

2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man.

3. Very intimate, near, or close. [Obs.]

A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28.

Syn. -- Principal; head; leading; main; paramount; supreme; prime; vital; especial; great; grand; eminent; master.

Chiefage <Xpage=247>

Chief"age (?) , n. [OF. chevage , fr. chief head. See Chief .] A tribute by the head; a capitation tax. [Written also chevage and chivage .] [Obs.]

Chief baron <Xpage=247>

Chief" bar"on (?) . (Eng. Law) The presiding judge of the court of exchequer.

Chiefest <Xpage=247>

Chief"est , a. [Superl. of Chief .] First or foremost; chief; principal. [Archaic] "Our chiefest courtier."

Shak.

The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10.

Chief hare <Xpage=247>

Chief" hare` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) A small rodent ( Lagamys princeps ) inhabiting the summits of the Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare , calling hare , cony , American pika , and little chief hare .

&hand; It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family Lagomyid\'91 .

Chief justice <Xpage=247>

Chief" jus"tice (?) . The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court.

Lord Chief Justice of England , The presiding judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The highest judicial officer of the realm is the Lord High Chancellor. -- Chief Justice of the United States , the presiding judge of the Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the republic.

Chief-justiceship <Xpage=247>

Chief"-jus"tice*ship , n. The office of chief justice.

Jay selected the chief-justiceship as most in accordance with his tastes. The Century.

Chiefless <Xpage=247>

Chief"less (?) , a. Without a chief or leader.

Chiefly <Xpage=247>

Chief"ly (?) , adv. 1. In the first place; principally; pre\'89minently; above; especially.

Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton.

2. For the most part; mostly.

Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift.

Chiefrie <Xpage=247>

Chief"rie (?) , n. A small rent paid to the lord paramount. [Obs.]

Swift.

Chieftain <Xpage=247>

Chief"tain (?) , n. [OE. cheftayn , chevetayn , OF. chevetain , F. capitaine , LL. capitanus , fr. L. caput head. Cf. Captain , and see chief .] A captain, leader, or commander; a chief; the head of a troop, army, or clan.

Syn. -- Chief; commander; leader; head. See Chief .

Chieftaincy, Chieftainship <Xpage=247>

Chief"tain*cy (?) , Chief"tain*ship , n. The rank, dignity, or office of a chieftain.

Chierte <Xpage=247>

Chier"te (?) , n. [OF. chert\'82 . See Charity .] Love; tender regard. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Chievance <Xpage=247>

Chiev"ance (?) , n. [OF. chevance property, equiv. To chevisance , fr. chevir to accomplish. See Chevisance .] An unlawful bargain; traffic in which money is exported as discount. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Chieve <Xpage=247>

Chieve (?) , v. i. See Cheve , v. i. [Obs.]

Chiff-chaff <Xpage=247>

Chiff"-chaff (<?/) , n. [So called from its note.] (Zo\'94l.) A species of European warbler ( Sylvia hippolais ); -- called also chip-chap , and pettychaps .

Chiffonier, fem. Chiffo-ni\'8are <Xpage=247>

Chif`fo*nier" (?) , fem. Chif`fo - ni\'8are" (?) , n. [F. chiffonnier , fem. chiffonni\'8are , fr. chiffon rag, fr. chiffe a rag, fimsy cloth.] 1. One who gathers rags and odds and ends; a ragpicker.

2. A receptacle for rags or shreds.

3. A movable and ornamental closet or piece of furniture with shelves or drawers.

G. Eliot.

Chignon <Xpage=247>

Chi"gnon (<?/) , n. [F., prop. equiv. to cha\'8cnon link, fr. cha\'8cne chain, fr. L. catena Cf. Chain .] A knot, boss, or mass of hair, natural or artificial, worn by a woman at the back of the head.

A curl that had strayed from her chignon . H. James.

Chigoe, Chigre <Xpage=247>

Chig"oe (?) , Chig"re (?) , n. [Cf. F. chigue , perh. fr. Catalan chic small, Sp. chico ; or of Peruvian origin.] (Zo\'94l.) A species of flea ( Pulex penetrans ), common in the West Indies and South America, which often attacks the feet or any exposed part of the human body, and burrowing beneath the skin produces great irritation. When the female is allowed to remain and breed, troublesome sores result, which are sometimes dangerous. See Jigger . [Written also chegre , chegoe , chique , chigger , jigger .]

&hand; The name is sometimes erroneously given to certain mites or ticks having similar habits.

Chikara <Xpage=247>

Chi*ka"ra (<?/) , n. [Hind.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) The Ingoat antelope ( Tragops Bennettii ) Of India. (b) The Indian four-horned antelope ( Tetraceros quadricornis ).

Chilblain <Xpage=247>

Chil"blain` (?) , n. [ Chill + Blain .] A blain, sore, or inflammatory swelling, produced by exposure of the feet or hands to cold, and attended by itching, pain, and sometimes ulceration.

Chilblain <Xpage=247>

Chil"blain` , v. t. To produce chilblains upon.

Child <Xpage=247>

Child (?) , n. ; pl. Children (#) . [AS. cild , pl. cildru ; cf. Goth. kil\'edei womb, in-kil\'ed\'d3 with child.] 1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law , legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.

2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.

3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.

4. A noble youth. See Childe . [Obs.]

Chaucer.

5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc.

When I was 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. xii. 11.

6. A female infant. [Obs.]

A boy or a child , I wonder? Shak.

To be with child , to be pregnant. -- Child's play , light work; a trifling contest.

Child <Xpage=247>

Child , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Childed ; p. pr. & vb. n . Childing .] To give birth; to produce young.

This queen Genissa childing died. Warner.

It chanced within two days they childed both. Latimer.

Childbearing <Xpage=247>

Child"bear`ing (?) , n. The act of producing or bringing forth children; parturition.

Milton. Addison.

Childbed <Xpage=247>

Child"bed (?) , n. The state of a woman bringing forth a child, or being in labor; parturition.

Childbirth <Xpage=247>

Child"birth (?) , n. The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labor.

Jer. Taylor.

Childcrowing <Xpage=247>

Child"crow`ing (?) , n. (Med.) The crowing noise made by children affected with spasm of the laryngeal muscles; false croup.

Childe <Xpage=247>

Childe (?) , n. A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son, until he succeeded to his ancestral titles, or was knighted; as, Childe Roland .

Childed <Xpage=247>

Child"ed (?) , a. Furnished with a child. [Obs.]

Childermas day <Xpage=247>

Chil"dermas day` (?) . [AS. cildam\'91sse-d\'91g ; cild child + d\'91g day.] (Eccl.) A day (December 28) observed by mass or festival in commemoration of the children slain by Herod at Bethlehem; -- called also Holy Innocent's Day .

<page="248"> Page 248

Childhood <Xpage=248>

Child"hood (?) , n. [AS. cildh\'bed ; cild child + -h\'bed . See Child , and hood .] 1. The state of being a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty.

I have walked before you from my childhood . 1. Sam. xii. 2.

2. Children, taken collectively. [R.]

The well-governed childhood of this realm. Sir. W. Scott.

3. The commencement; the first period.

The childhood of our joy. Shak.

Second childhood , the state of being feeble and incapable from old age.

Childing <Xpage=248>

Child"ing (?) , a. [See Child , v. i. ] Bearing Children; (Fig.) productive; fruitful. [R.]

Shak.

Childish <Xpage=248>

Child"ish , a. 1. Of, pertaining to, befitting, or resembling, a child. " Childish innocence."

Macaulay.

2. Peurile; trifling; weak.

Methinks that simplicity in her countenance is rather childish than innocent. Addison.

&hand; Childish , as applied tc persons who are grown up, is in a disparaging sense; as, a childish temper.

Childishly <Xpage=248>