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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
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.