Charlies. The old night watchmen reorganised by Charles I. These were the only civic protectors down to the introduction of the modern police system by Sir Robert Peel.
Charlotte Street. After the queen of George III.
Charter House. A corruption of La Chartreuse, one of the English houses of the Order of monks of the place of the same name in France.
Chartreuse. The liqueurs prepared at the monastery of La Chartreuse, near Grenoble.
Chauffeur. The French term for a motor-car driver; it has no English equivalent.
Cheap Jack. A modern equivalent for “Chap-man.” Jack is a generic name for man-servant or an inferior person.
Cheapside. The High Street of the city of London, consequently abutting on the chepe, or market-place.
Cheese it. A corruption of “Choose it better,” or, in other words, “Tell me something I can believe.”
Chef. French for head or master. Employed alone, the word expresses a head man cook.
Chelmsford. The ford over the Chelmer.