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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHIRT, Chert, Churt, Jirt, v. and n. Once in use in St.Eng. in sense of “chirp,” but now obs. (N.E.D.). [tʃɪ̢rt, tʃʌrt, dʒɪ̢rt]

I. v.

1. tr. To squeeze, press, squirt; to clench (the teeth), bite (the tongue); vbl.n. chirtin, a thrusting, pounding or knocking about, rough handling. Also found in n.Eng. dial. (E.D.D.). Sc. 1823 Blackwood's Mag. (Oct.) 485: 
You hae jirted the bluid frae my finger-ends.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 28:
The Wulf at ance was chirtit by the Bear — A kin' o' Jethart law — but,'twas fan' oot . . . The Wulf had ate the Lamb, withoot a doot.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 106: 
He was sair'd, tae my mind at ony rate, when the doctor gied him sic a guid hearty chirtin,.w.Sc. 1934 “Uncle Tom” Mrs Goudie's Tea-Pairty 52:
Somebuddy's churtit a chuckie intae the bizness end o' ma flit [flute].Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 16: 
Than wi' chirten and chappen, down comes the clay hallen and the hen bauk.Lnk. c.1890 (per Lnk.³):
She kneaded the dough and turned it over, remarking “Ye see the airt o't, just birze't in and chirt it oot — and syne play so” suiting the action to the word.Ayr. 1900 “G. Douglas” House with Green Shutters (1901) xv.:
I saw the marks of his chirted teeth through his jaw.Ayr.⁴ 1914:
He chirtit oot the bealin frae his finger.Gall. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 6:
[Farmers] did not treat their servants as if they were . . . some kind of brute beasts for chirting work out of.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
If you can't tell the truth, you had better chert your tongue and say nothing.Proverbial saying (per Kcb.¹⁰ 1939):
He's forgot the chisset he was chirted in.

2. intr.

(1) To squirt (Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 284, jirt), to press; to squeeze, thrust one's way.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 205:
While lads an' laughin' lasses free Chirt in to hear thy sang, Will Eben let a chiel like me Join wi' the chearfu' thrang?Gall. 1884 D. McWhirter Musings 147: 
As through the crowd ye chirt alang.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The tea chirtit oot.

(2) “To make a grating noise with the teeth” (Cai. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.). Cf. Chirk, v. (2).

†(3) “To act in a griping manner, as, in making a bargain; also, to squeeze or practise extortion” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Ppl.adj. chirting.Ib.:
A chirting fallow, a covetous wretch, an extortioner.

†(4) To laugh inwardly, to restrain (laughter); sometimes used with in (see first quot.).Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 19:
It was juist as good as a play, and I whyles had a terr'ble facht to chirt in the lauch.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 88:
His favourite nymph, wi' glad, uplifted heart, Stands chirtin, in a corner.

II. n.

1. A squeeze, a hug (Kcb.⁹ 1940; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); fig. a gripping sensation. Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick III. viii.:
De'il an' it wadna be mair o' a gude-turn tae gi'e the wuzzen o' ye a chirt nor to set ye on your en' again.Ayr. 1900 “G. Douglas” House with Green Shutters (1901) xi.:
[The stick] snapped in his grasp like a worm-eaten larch-twig . . . “Lord!” cried the baker in admiring awe, “did he break it with the ae chirt!”Kcb.¹⁰ 1939:
A wadna hit 'ee tae hurt 'ee, but A wad gae 'ee an awfa' chirt.Dmf. 1894 R. Reid Poems 159: 
For a freit, like a chirt o' the norlan' blast, Lies cauld, lies cauld at the heart o' me.

2. A sudden spirt (Rxb. 1825 Jam.²). Given as obs. by Watson in form chirt.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The tea cam oot o' the pot wi' a jirt.

3. “A grating noise made with the teeth” (Cai. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.). Cf. Chirk, n.

4. A small quantity of anything; “a small quantity of liquid, as milk or tea” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., jirt). Given as obsol. by Watson in form chirt.Sc. 1895 H. Ochiltree Redburn vii.:
We're gaun to ha'e a bit chirt o' frost.Rxb. 1825 Jam.²:
A chirt of gerss, a small quantity of grass; a chirt of water, applied to very little water.