Chaunter-Cove, subs. (thieves’).—A reporter. [From chaunt, to ‘crack’
or ‘cry up,’ + er + cove, a man.]
Chaunter-Cull, subs. (old).—A writer of ballads and street literature
for the use of chaunters or ‘street patterers.’ They haunted certain
well-known public-houses in London and Birmingham, and were open to
write ballads ‘to order’ on any subject, the rate of remuneration
varying from half-a-crown to seven-and-sixpence. The chaunter having
practically disappeared, his poet has gone with him.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 58. [Named and described
in.]
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Chaunter-culls: Grub Street
writers, who compose songs, carrols, etc., for ballad singers.
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. vi. I trust, whenever
the chanter-culls and last-speech scribblers get hold of me,
they’ll at least put no cursed nonsense into my mouth.
Chaunter upon the Leer, phr. (old).—An advertiser.
Chaunting.—See Chanting.
Chauvering Donna or Moll, subs. (old).—A prostitute. [From chauvering,
sexual intercourse. + donna (q.v.), a woman, or moll (q.v.), a loose
female.] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.
Chaw, subs. (common).—1. A countryman; a yokel; a bumpkin. [A
contraction of chaw-bacon (q.v.). In common use at Harrow School.]
1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. I., ch. i. There’s
nothing like the old country-side for me, and no music like the
twang of the real old Saxon tongue, as one gets it fresh from the
veritable chaw in the White Horse Vale.
2. (vulgar).—A mouthful; a ‘gobbet’; in the mouth at once; e.g., a quid
of tobacco; a dram of spirits, etc. [From chaw, verb, q.v.]
1749. ‘Humours of the Fleet,’ quoted in Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 286.
And in his nether jaw Was stuff’d an elemosynary chaw.
1772. Gentleman’s Magazine, XLII., 191. The tars ... Took their
chaws, hitched their trousers, and grinn’d in our faces. [m.]
1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, xiv. The boy was made to open his
mouth, while the chaw of tobacco was extracted.
1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, II., 123. ‘I’m blest if
I’m fit for work, ’thout a raw chaw.’
1864. Daily Telegraph, 26 July. The gentleman have often ‘that
within that passeth show,’ to wit, a chaw of tobacco: this is not
very conducive to volubility in conversation.