Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CHIEF, Cheef, adj. Intimate, friendly; “thick as thieves” (Cai.9 1939). Gen.Sc. [tʃif]Sc. 1909 Colville 127:
If “by-ordnar thrang,” they were reported to be “cheef” or intimate.Abd. 1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood xvi.:
Him an' Matty was terrible chief awhile.Ags. 1889 J. M. Barrie W. in Thrums ii.:
I wonder wha'll be to preach the morn — tod, it'll likely be Mr Skinner, frae Dundee; him an' the minister's chief, ye ken.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 199:
He's been comin' to the house, and they're ower chief now for my taste.Edb. 1990 James Allan Ford in Joy Hendry Chapman 59 44:
He wore a heavy tweed suit winter and summer alike, and a brown felt hat inside as well as outside the shop, and looked, as he said himself, more like a laird than a Leither. Worse than that, he was chief with some of the bobbies.Arg. 1992:
He an Duncan McGougan wir very chief at wan time.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet xix.:
An' sae ye can tell Bell o' the Manse, gin you an' her are so chief.
