Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chevis, v. Also: cheveis, chewis, -ys, cheiwis. [ME. chevis, cheves (c 1300), OF. cheviss-, lengthened stem of chevir to bring to a head or end.]

1. intr. and tr. To achieve, accomplish. 1375 Barb. vii. 427.
Thai thoucht thai suld him sla, And gif that thai mycht chevis [E. chewys] swa, … That thai mycht vyn the wode agayn a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 96.
Lord Ihesu, That chast consal wele chewis nov

2. refl. To act for oneself; to manage one's affairs. ?1438 Alex. ii. 4594.
Withdraw ȝow out mare hastelly! I sall wele better chewis me! c1460 Thewis Gud Wemen 276.
Had scho done weill Scho had ben maryt richly. Now lat her chewys her fore thi

3. tr. To acquire, obtain. c1450-2 Howlat 644.
For thai couth chewis chikinnis. and purchese pultre, … as kyngis caytouris c1475 Wall. vi. 20.
We can nocht now chewys [1570 cheueis] hyr lyff agayne 1484 Grant Chart. 36.
Ony landis … at thai ar cleid with this day, or at thai hapine eftirwart to cheiwis and ouptene c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 291.
His cheif chymys [I] had chevist to my sone