Cherry-merry, a present of money. Cherry-merry-bamboo, a beating.—Anglo-Indian.
Cherubs, or still more vulgarly, CHERUBIMS, the chorister boys who chaunt in the services at the abbeys and cathedrals. Possibly because in some places their heads alone are visible.
Cheshire Cat, to grin like a CHESHIRE CAT, to display the teeth and gums when laughing. Formerly the phrase was “to grin like a CHESHIRE CAT eating cheese.” A hardly satisfactory explanation has been given of this phrase—that Cheshire is a county palatine, and the cats, when they think of it, are so tickled with the notion that they can’t help grinning.[59]
Chicken, a term applied to anything young, small, or insignificant; CHICKEN STAKES, small paltry stakes; “she’s no CHICKEN,” said of an old maid.
Chicken-hearted, cowardly, fearful. With about the amount of pluck a chicken in a fright might be supposed to possess.
Chi-ike, to hail in a rough though friendly manner; to support by means of vociferation.
Chi-ike, a hail; a good loud word of hearty praise; term used by the costermongers, who assist the sale of each other’s goods by a little friendly, although noisy, commendation.
Children’s Shoes (to make), to be made nought of.—See [SHOES].
Chill, to warm, as beer. This at first seems like reversing the order of things, but it is only a contraction of “take the CHILL off.”
Chimney-Sweep, the aperient mixture commonly called a black draught.