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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.

Chefe, Cheif, n. Also: chef, cheff(e, cheef(f, pl. chevis; cheiff, cheife, cheyf(f, chief; scheif(f, scheyff. [ME. cheef, chefe, chef (c 1300), OF. chief, chef head.]

1. a. In chefe, as an immediate vassal. 1375 Barb. i. 154.
Gyff thow will hald in cheyff [Wynt. cheff] of me, … I sall do swa thow sall be king c1420 Wynt. iii. 781.
He … gert thame all hale of Assyry … hald thare land off hym in cheffe Ib. viii. 589.
The tenandis off that land, That thare feis war haldand Off the Duke hym-self in cheffe 1426 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 202.
The qwhilk … land the said Dauy … sal hauld of our lorde the Kyng in chefe 1492 Acta Conc. 241/1.
He clamit the saidis landis to be a tennandry of Bothuile, and haldin of him in cheiff as erle of Bothuile 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 530/2.
The ward of the landis of Enterkin, … perteining to Johnne Dunbar of Enterkin, haldin be him of umquhile Johne erle of Lenax in cheif 1677 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 50.
The towns and lands of Auchrydie … held in chief of the Lairds of Towie

b. In or at chefe, in the principal place. c1420 Wynt. v. 5605.
Ane ymage in cheffe thare-in wes set Off Romule c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 23.
In siluer caigis thai sit at cheif

2. The head town or city; the capital. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 767.
Smarag is a faire ton & chefe of the regione c1400 Troy-bk. i. 219.
Thar was a fare cite … ; It wes the cheef of that kynrik c1420 Wynt. iv. 1333.
Cartage … That wes the cheffe [C. cheyff] off all Affryke Ib. 2524.
That ilke towne That cheffe [C. cheyff] ware of that regyown

3. One having place or power above others; a lord or leader. c1420 Wynt. vi. 22.
God … is his cheffe And nane othir meyne persowne 1456 Hay I. 146/18.
Sen … the man of armes askit leue at his lord and cheif to pas hame Ib. 210/36.
Gif in the governance of ane houshald thar war na cheif c1475 Wall. vi. 272.
The worthy Scottis … Chesit him for cheyff, thar chyftayne and ledar 1549 Compl. 98/2.
Their vas in Rome tua consullis, … quha var committit to be cheiffis and captans of the armye 1567 G. Ball. 79.
Gif ȝe haif rissin … With Christ our cheif and souerane 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 26.
For feir of the quhilk the erll of Arrane, cheif of that cumpany, fled to … the lord Hume 1585 James VI Ess. 55.
Gif Nature be cheif, … reulis will be ane help and staff to Nature

b. The head of a Scottish clan, kindred, or feudal community.(a) 1432 Lamont P. 13.
To be … leyl and a gud lorde as his lorde and cheff of kyn acht for to be to thar neyr cosen and man 1440 Reg. Great S. 60/1.
Doand … til the chief of the said landis service auch and custume 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 339.
The said Alexander Irwin as cheif to the said Alexander Cummyn 1510 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 361.
Schir, ȝe wat we want our cheyf; ȝe may refe ws all at we haue, an ȝe will 1530 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 9.
Ane honest assythment to be modyfyit be ws to the said Robert for the slauchter of his cheif 1547 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 64.
Thay … hes … chosyn … Ihon Cambell … to thair cheyf to be thair protectour & defendour … as ane cheyf dois in the contreis of the Helands 1551 Black Bk. Taymouth 191.
The said Collin … sall haif the dew dewty that ane cheif and maister aucht to haif fra him and his perpetuallie 1570 Thanes of Cawdor 177.
[They] hes giffin … thair manrent and calpe … as ane cheyff … aucht to haiff a1578 Pitsc. I. 63/13.
Schir Thomas Randall … cheif of the clanne Allane Ib. 128/26.
Nor ȝeit wald he make the messingeris foir to dispair of thair cheiffis remissieoun 1587 Acts III. 463/1.
The capitanes, cheiffis, and chiftanes of all clannis … to entir sic personis pleges as salbe nominat be the kingis maiesties lettres 1596 Dalr. I. 104/15.
Thay pas in ordour, following thair maistiris, or cheif of thair hous, and thair anseinȝie 16.. Highland P. II. 271.
The Hylanders ar by nature most … pron to adventur … ther liwes … for ther masters and cheifes c1650 Spalding I. 3.
Considering thair younge cheif, the laird of M^cIntosh, wes bot ane barne 1645 Kinghorn Kirk-S. 48.
A flesher was a honester man then the cheife of his kin 1698 Fam. Innes 37.
Haveing his cheefs favor(b) c1550-79 Chron. Fortirgall 121.
Alexander McGregor of Glenstra our scheyff was bot one barne 1585 Thanes of Cawdor 188.
I ordane the lard of Calder to gratifye my scheif as he thynkis convenient 16.. Hist. Kennedy 65.
Johne Dik … , quha had slayne his maister and scheiff, the Laird off Bargany