Chatter-Basket, subs. (common).—A prattling child. Originally
dialectical, chatter-basket being the Lancashire form; while in West
Somerset they say chatter-bag. Cf., Chatterbox.
Chatter-bones, Chatter-cart, and Chatter-bladder, subs.
(common).—Variants of chatterbox (q.v.). For synonyms, see Clack-box.
1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. xi., p. 94. That little girl of
fifteen with the loquacious chin: who, to do her justice, acts up
to it ... for of all the small chatterbones that ever invaded the
repose of drowsy ladies’ cabin, she is the first and foremost.
Chatterbox, subs. (colloquial).—An incessant talker; used
contemptuously of adults and playfully of children. [From chatter,
gabble + box, a receptacle; metaphorically, a box full of chatter. Cf.,
Bag of bones.] A variant is chatterbones (q.v.). For synonyms, see
Clack-box.
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Chatter Box, one
whose tongue runs twelve score to the dozen; a chattering man or
woman.
1840. C. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop [C. D. ed.], p. 93. A set of
idle chatterboxes.
1878. E. Jenkins, Haverholme, p. 52. A mere political chatterbox.
Chatter-Broth, subs. (old).—Tea; the beverage and the party. A
Yorkshire equivalent is chatter-water. Quoted by Grose [1785]. Variants
are cat-lap and scandal-broth (q.v.).
Chatterer, subs. (pugilistic).—A heavy blow upon the mouth; or, says
Peter Corcoran, ‘a blow that tells.’ For synonyms see Dig.
1827. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’), Sonnet on The Fancy. I’ve left
the Fives-Court rush,—the flash—the rally. The noise of ‘Go it,
Jack’—the stop—the blow—The shout—the chattering hit—the check—the
sally.
Chatterers, subs. (common).—The teeth. For synonyms, see Grinders.
Chattery, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.
1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Chattery, cotton, or
linen goods.
Chatty, subs. (old).—A filthy man. [From chat (q.v.), a louse, + y.]
English variants are chatty-dosser, crummy-dosser. Amongst French
equivalents may be mentioned un bifteck à maquart (Maquart is the name
of a well-known knacker); un sale pâtissier (literally a dirty
pastry-cook); un kroumir; un gorgniat; un pégocier.
Adj. (common).—Filthy; lousy. [For derivation, see subs.] A French
equivalent is graphiqué—itself a very ‘telling,’ ‘speaking,’ or
‘chatty’ expression; also malastiqué.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Chatty: lousy.
Chatty-Feeder, subs. (old).—A spoon. [A vague reference to the mouth as
the place of ‘chat’ or ‘chatter.’] For synonyms see Wedge-feeder.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary. ‘And where the swag so bleakly
pinched, A hundred stretches hence?... The chips, the fawneys,
chatty-feeders.’
Chaunt, subs. (old).—A song.—See Chant, subs., sense 1.
Verb (vagrants’).—To sing ballads, etc., in the streets.—See Chant,
verb, sense 1.
To Chaunt the play, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To explain the tricks and
manœuvres of thieves.
Chaunted, ppl. adj. (streets’).—Sung of, and celebrated, in street
ballads. [From chaunt, to sing street ballads, + ed.]—See Chanting,
subs., sense 2.
1827. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’). Lines to Philip Samson in The
Fancy. ‘Be content that you’ve beat Dolly Smith, and been chaunted,
And trained—stripped—and petted, and hit off your legs!’
Chaunter, subs. (vagrants’).—1. A street singer of ballads, dying
speeches, etc. Rarely heard now except in the poorest neighbourhoods.
His practice is peculiar. One man gets as far as he can, and when his
voice cracks his companion takes things up. For this reason the
business is conducted by a brace of men, by a man and woman, or by a
woman and child.—See quot. 1851. [From chaunt, to sing, + er.] Also
called a paper-worker (q.v.); and Death-hunter (q.v.). French Synonyms
are un chanteur à la balade or au baladage; un goualeur or une
goualeuse (see Eugene Sue Mystères de Paris); une cigale (popular: a
female street-singer); and un braillard. Fourbesque, granchetto (a term
also applied to one who speaks gibberish or thieves’ lingo).
1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 229. The
chaunters, or those who do not cry, but (if one may so far stretch
the English language) sing the contents of the ‘papers’ they vend.
Ibid, p. 240. The running patterer ... is accompanied generally by
a chaunter.... The chaunter not only sings, but fiddles.