Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/78

CHAM.—To chew; there is also in use the expression "A chammed awver't a goodish bit;" this expresses hesitation and unwillingness to do a thing.

CHAP.—Any man of no great consideration; but we say equally.

"A goodish zart o' chap," and "a poorish zart of a chap;" where a number of men in any station of life may be banded together they are called chaps, the expression then running "them (descriptive title) chaps."

CHARLOCK.—The wild mustard, which grows to the detriment of corn crops.

CHASS, or CHERLES.—Charles.

CHATTER AT.—To scold.

"Meuster 'ooll chatter at 'e when a comes to knaw on 't."

CHATTER-WATER.—Tea.

CHAY, or CHAW.—To bite one's food.

"A be got awld an' can't chay nothun' now.

CHERM.—A mixture of noises of various kinds. "Chermin the baze" is the act of ringing a stone against a spade or watering can; this music is supposed to cause the bees to settle in the neighbourhood; another object in doing this is to let the neighbours know who the bees belong to if they should chance to settle on adjacent property.

CHEERY.—Chary, careful in a mean or stingy sense.

CHE-UZZES, or CHAZES.—Seeds of the mallow.

CHICK A BIDDIES.—Fowls; but this word is principally used by children.

CHICKEN'S MEAT.—The broken grains of corn used for feeding poultry.

CHIDLINS, or CHITLINS.—Chitterlings.

CHILDERN.—Children.

CHIMBLEY.—A chimney: a chimney sweep is a "chimbley swape."

CHINKIN'.—Metallic rattling noise as of a chain dragged over stones.

CHIN MUSIC.—Impertinence.

"Dwo-ant gie I none o' thee chin music," is a common retort.