Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Chak, Chack, n. [ME. chak, rare variant of chek, Chek n. OF. eschec, eschac.]

1. A check in the game of chess; a turn or trick; a chance or advantage. a1500 Seven S. 1521.
The chak scho tuke on hand to preif 1513 Doug. v. viii. 14.
He etlys ȝondir hys avantage to tak. He metis hym thar, and charris hym with a chak 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10072.
The Empreour … watchit about quhat time that he best micht Cum to his chak, his awin twa sonnis to sla a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 199.
Vnder cuir I gat sic chak, That I mycht nowther deme nor nek, bot ather stell or meit 1603 Moysie 88.
They, remaining their aucht or ten dayis vpon a chack, wer compellit to returne home as they come a feild

2. An appliance for checking or stopping something; a check-rein.Cf. Chak quheill, Chak reill. 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 119.
A fader bed, a cruk, a chak, a chyar c1590 J. Stewart 17/187.
Scho gife hir horse both brydle, chak, and vand Ib. 39/331.
No chap nor chak mycht mak him lift his heed Ib. 51/104.
The … port he did persawe, Quhairof preparing till vpclose the chak [etc.]

3. A slight recess or edge serving as a check. Also attrib. with leid (lead). 1593 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 395.
To cast the kirk leid to agre with the chak leid vpone the kirk 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 339.
The said Thomas … sall big ane wall … with ane hewin chack to gang doun to the lauch voult 1702 Foulis Acc. Bk. 312.
To Joⁿ. Aitkine, masone; for hewing the chacks of the 2 chess windowes at Woodhall