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.
Chaft, n.1 Also: cheft. [Northern ME. chaft (c 1300), OE. *ceaft, related to ON. kjapt-, kj pt-r.] A jaw. Chiefly in pl. chaftis.c1420 Wynt. iii. 146.
A gret swarme off beys thare Wele hyvyd within the chaftys ware 1456 Hay II. 121/26.
Rub it all about thy mouth within and on thy chaftis c1475 Wall. v. 764.
A nothir sone apon the hed strak he, Quhill chaftis and cheyff [v.r. cheik] vpon the gate can fle c1500 Rowll Cursing 59.
The choikis that haldis the chaftis fra chowing Ib. 120.
Sayis richt thus of Rowlis geis, Tha chaftis thame chowit every peis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 108.
Sa heklis he my chekis, … as a glemand gleyd glowis my chaftis Ib. 290.
Quhen that the chuf wald me chid with girnand chafts 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 92.
With ȝour chaftis to gnaw ȝe salbe fane … ȝour tabillis al Ib. vii. xiv. 10.
Chymera, That wondrus monstre, with wide chaftis bla 1531 Bell. Boece II. 91.
Ane immoderat flux of catterre fel in his throte and chaftis 15.. Christis Kirk 76 (M).
Throw bayth the cheikis he thocht to cheir him Or throw the chaftis haue charde him 1547 Stirling B. Rec. I. 48.
Calland hir huir and theiff … and that scho suld lay the pynt stoup on hir cheftis 1553 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 160.
Thay aggre … to cry out with oppin chaftes on the halie Counsalis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4078.
We sall … check ȝow into chenȝeis, vp be the chaftis chockit 1567 G. Ball. 114.
Fast to my chaftis my tung sall be Claspit, or that I it forȝet a1578 Pitsc. I. 319/26.
Thair war money markit that day throche the chaftis with ane sword 1588 King Cat. 173 b.
I brak the chaftis of the vniust, and pluckit the pray out of thair teithe a1605 Montg. Flyt. 97.
I promise thee heere to thy chafts ill cheir 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 115.
Thou tuik his instrument owt of his moutht, than tuik him on the chaftis therewith 1622 Glasgow Weavers 68.
I sall skinne thy chaftes, and tack ane buckie afe thy cheike
b. Chaft-blade, the jawbone.1540 Lynd. Sat. 2087.
Heir is ane relict … , Of Fine Macoull the richt chaft blaid, With teith and al togidder 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 210.
The child died after she had most cruelly broken the chaft blades thereof
