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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.

Chose, Chois, n. Also: chos, choise, choys(e; schose, shoyse. [ME. chois, choys (c 1300), OF. chois.The representation of OF. oi by ō is normal. The later oi, oy, is originally a graphic variant of this, but may latterly have been identified with the English diphthong in choice. In some instances the rhyme indicates that oi, oy, is equivalent to u, ui, as in Chose v.: for these see Chuse n.]

1. An act or opportunity of choosing; a choice.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 264.
Giff that thaim war set in chos, To dey, or to leyff cowartly 1400 Maxwell Mem. I. 140.
The sayd chose tane, the sayd Schyr Ion … sal resyngne vp … all the rycht that in hym ys of that land 1416 Ib. 149.
The said Sir Robert findand hym borowys for the said male at his awne chose 1456 Hay I. 69/18.
Sa, be force, and nocht be the chos of the peplis, electioun was first conquest c1475 Wall. iv. 593.
Her is no chos, bot owdir do or de Ib. vi. 51.
Scho be chos has bath hyr luff and lord a1500 Seven S. 845.
Better chos war for to de Than evire in det and mister be 1507 Rec. Earld. Orkney 79.
[He] sal haffe that tother halff and the forst chose of the heyd chymys a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 504.
That I may touch thy tone … Or turse thé out of Scotland: tak thy chose 15.. Clar. i. 1547.
Of thir knichtis my chose if I sould have, Clariodus I chuse above the leave 1575 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 43.
We haue hard na mentioun be yow … of quhome [ye are] to mak chose of for your officiarris a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1219.
Except the cherrie be his chose, Be ȝe his friends, we are his foes 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 168.
We had specially maid chose of you to be witnessis 1600-1610 Melvill 45.
To mak schose of the men of best giftes Ib. 442.
That the Kirk should mak chose of thair awin commissionars 1619 Highland P. III. 309.
I haue maid chose of young Laweris 1626 Garden Worthies 16.
A generall, nought be my chance bot chose, In Palestine wnto the warrs I went c1650 Spalding I. 37.
His Majestie made chose to ryd in King James the Fourtis rob royall(b) c1475 Wall. x. 258.
Twa choys thar is, the best I rede ws waill a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1181.
Say me ane chois, the tane of thir twa c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 46.
Gif ȝe think, had ȝe chois, that ȝe wald cheis better Ib. 54. Ib. lxxvi. 4.
A fre chois gevin to Paradice or Hell 1535 Stewart 61093.
Ane ladie … the dur did clois, Into that tyme thair wes na vther chois a1568 Bann. MS. 139 a/65.
Thocht thow suppois [to] haif at thy chois, I reid the for the nanis [etc.] Ib. 244 b/7.
Aft tymis lufe chesis ane vnlyk chois [: ros] 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 310.
That the said Jonet haif the first chois thairof 1579 Conv. Burghs I. 85.
The vther tovne salhave thair chois quhilk of the fyve men they will cheis to be ouerisman a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 5.
Nane can eschew nor haue thair chance at choys [: depois] 1596 Dalr. II. 236/5.
I prescriue him na law, but rather gyue him his choise 1615 Mure Misc. P. x. 32.
Let death … alter alone our choyse and electioune 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 258.
I have med choise to put him in my comoune 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 113.
James Robiesoune … is maid choyse of to be visitour of the mwire 1656 Conv. Burghs III. 424.
To mak choys of the nyn traficqueing merchandis 1674 Edinb. Test. LXXV. 52 b.
I doe recomend to them to mak shoyse of … thair mother to be curatrex to them 1691 Lauder Journal 302.
John Ramsay … was made choyse of … with this extravagant priveledge

2. That which is specially chosen; the best or most excellent thing or person. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 193.
With all the choise of Venus cheualry Thay come Ib. xii. 82.
Sweyrd of knightheid and choise of cheualry Ib. lxxxvi. 6 (A).
Of ladyis chose as is of letteris A 15.. Clar. iv. 104.
Hir … of all womanheid the only chose c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 103.
Thair was of blis baith the waill and chois [: suppois] a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 5.
Hir … quha … of all vertew choise is and elect c1590 Fowler 133/200.
The fairest face of feminine, yea, of the world the chose c1600 Montg. Suppl. 212/3.
Thow art the chois [: formois], Ane lantern and ane lamp of lycht 1626 Garden Worthies 106.
Thow was Minerva's child, the Muses chose