Chicaner Chi·can"er noun [ Confer French chicaneur .] One who uses chicanery. Locke.

Chicanery Chi·can"er·y noun [ French 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.

Chiccory Chic"co·ry noun See Chicory .

Chich Chich noun ; plural Chiches [ French chiche , pois chiche , a dwarf pea, from Latin cicer the chick-pea.] (Botany) The chick-pea.

Chicha Chi"cha noun [ Spanish ] See Chica .

Chichevache Chiche"vache` noun [ French 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 Chich"ling, Chich"ling vetch` noun [ Chich + -ling .] (Botany) A leguminous plant ( Lathyrus sativus ), with broad flattened seeds which are sometimes used for food.

Chick Chick (chĭk) intransitive verb [ Middle English chykkyn , chyke , chicken .] To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. Chalmers.

Chick Chick noun 1. A chicken.

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

Chick-pea Chick"-pea` (-pē`) noun [ See Chich .] 1. (Botany) A Small leguminous plant ( Cicer arietinum ) of Asia, Africa, and the south of Europe; the chich; 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.

Chickabiddy Chick"a·bid`dy noun A chicken; a fowl; also, a trivial term of endearment for a child.

Chickadee Chick"a·dee` noun (Zoology) A small bird, the blackcap titmouse ( Parus atricapillus ), of North America; -- named from its note.

Chickaree Chick"a·ree` noun (Zoology) The American red squirrel ( Sciurus Hudsonius ); -- so called from its cry.

Chickasaws Chick"a·saws noun plural ; sing. Chickasaw . (Ethnol.) A tribe 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 Chick"en noun [ Anglo-Saxon cicen , cyceun , dim. of coc cock; akin to LG. kiken , küken , Dutch Kieken , kuiken , German küchkein . 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 pox Chick"en pox" (Medicine) A mild, eruptive disease, generally attacking children only; varicella.

Chicken-breasted Chick"en-breast`ed adjective Having a narrow, projecting chest, caused by forward curvature of the vertebral column.

Chicken-hearted Chick"en-heart`ed adjective Timid; fearful; cowardly. Bunyan.

Chickling Chick"ling (chĭk"lĭng) noun [ Chick + -ling .] A small chick or chicken.

Chickweed Chick"weed` (-wēd`) noun (Botany) The name of several caryophyllaceous weeds, especially Stellaria media , the seeds and flower buds of which are a favorite food of small birds.

Chicky Chick"y (chĭk"ȳ) noun A chicken; -- used as a diminutive or pet name, especially in calling fowls.

Chicle Chic"le noun , Chicle gum [ Amer. Spanish chicle .] A gumlike substance obtained from the bully tree ( Mimusops globosa ) and sometimes also from the naseberry or sapodilla ( Sapota zapotilla ). It is more plastic than caoutchouc and more elastic than gutta-percha, as an adulterant of which it is used in England. It is used largely in the United States in making chewing gum.

Chico Chi"co noun 1. Var. of Chica .

2. The common greasewood of the western United States ( Sarcobatus vermiculatus ).

3. In the Philippines, the sapodilla or its fruit; also, the marmalade tree or its fruit.

Chicory Chic"o·ry noun [ French chicorée , earlier also cichorée , Latin cichorium , from Greek ... , ... , Cf . Succory .] 1. (Botany) 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 coffee.

Chide Chide (chīd) transitive verb [ imperfect Chid (chĭd), or Chode (chīd Obsolete); past participle Chidden , Chid ; present participle & verbal noun Chiding .] [ Anglo-Saxon cīdan ; of unknown origin.] 1. To rebuke; to reprove; to scold; to find fault with.

Upbraided, chid , and rated at.
Shak.

2. Fig.: To be noisy 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 Chide intransitive verb 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 Chide noun [ Anglo-Saxon cīd ] A continuous noise or murmur.

The chide of streams.
Thomson.

Chider Chid"er noun One who chides or quarrels. Shak.

Chideress Chid"er·ess noun She who chides. [ Obsolete]

Chidester Chide"ster noun [ Chide + -ster .] A female scold. [ Obsolete]

Chidingly Chid"ing·ly adverb In a chiding or reproving manner.

Chief Chief (chēn) noun [ Middle English chief , chef , Old French chief, French chef , from Latin caput head, possibly akin to English head . Confer 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 principal actor 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 Chief adjective 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. [ Obsolete]

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

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

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

Chief hare Chief" hare` (Zoology) 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 .

» It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family Lagomyidæ .

Chief justice 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 Chief"-jus"tice·ship noun The office of chief justice.

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

Chiefage Chief"age (-aj) noun [ Old French chevage , from chief head. See Chief .] A tribute by the head; a capitation tax. [ Written also chevage and chivage .] [ Obsolete]

Chiefest Chief"est adjective [ Superl. of Chief .] First or foremost; chief; principal. [ Archaic] "Our chiefest courtier." Shak.

The chiefest among ten thousand.
Canticles v. 10.

Chiefless Chief"less adjective Without a chief or leader.

Chiefly Chief"ly adverb 1. In the first place; principally; preëminently; 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 Chief"rie noun A small rent paid to the lord paramount. [ Obsolete] Swift.

Chieftain Chief"tain noun [ Middle English cheftayn , chevetayn , Old French chevetain , French capitaine , Late Latin capitanus , from Latin caput head. Confer 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 Chief"tain·cy, Chief"tain·ship noun The rank, dignity, or office of a chieftain.

Chierte Chier"te noun [ Old French cherté . See Charity .] Love; tender regard. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Chievance Chiev"ance noun [ Old French chevance property, equiv. To chevisance , from chevir to accomplish. See Chevisance .] An unlawful bargain; traffic in which money is exported as discount. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Chieve Chieve intransitive verb See Cheve , intransitive verb [ Obsolete]

Chiff-chaff Chiff"-chaff noun [ So called from its note.] (Zoology) A species of European warbler ( Sylvia hippolais ); -- called also chip- chap , and pettychaps .

Chiffon Chif`fon" noun [ French, lit., rag. See Chiffonier .] 1. Any merely ornamental adjunct of a woman's dress, as a bunch of ribbon, lace, etc.

2. A kind of soft gauzy material used for ruches, trimmings, etc.

Chiffonier Chif`fo·nier" fem. Chif`fo*nière" noun [ French chiffonnier , fem. chiffonnière , from chiffon rag, from chiffe a rag, flimsy 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.

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