Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†CHEIM, v. “To divide equally, especially in cutting down the backbone of an animal” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).
[Assigned by Jam. to Eng. chine, the spinal column, but cf. Eng. (Suf.) dial. chine, to divide up a “crop” of pork by sawing between the ribs (E.D.D.), and obs. Eng. chine, to burst asunder, split open (N.E.D.), from O.E. cīnan, to gape, crack (Sweet), O.H.Ger. kînan, to germinate, cogn. Ger. keimen, to bud, shoot. For interchange of m and n, cf. Clime and Cline, Brime and Eng. brine.]
