Chiaus

Quick meaning: Chiaus is a noun meaning Obsolete spelling of chouse (“a swindler”).

Meaning

Obsolete spelling of chouse (“a swindler”).

More Meanings

1. Obsolete spelling of chouse (“cheat, trick, swindle”).
2. (historical) An Ottoman Empire court official; an attendant, messenger, herald, interpreter.
3. (historical) An Ottoman Empire çavuş (“sergeant”).

Example Sentences

Dap. And will I tell then! By this hand of flesh, Would it might never write good courthand more, If discover. What do you think of me, That I am a chiaus? Face. What’s that? Dap. The Turk was, here― As one would say, do you think I am a Turk? Face. I’ll tell the doctor so. Dap. Do, good sweet captain.

The word chouse appears to have been introduced into the language at the beginning of the seventeenth century. In 1609, a Chiaus sent by Sir Robert Shirley, from Constantinople to London, had chiaused (or choused) the Turkish and Persian merchants out of ₤4,000, before the arrival of his employer, and had decamped. The affair was quite recent in 1610, when Jonson's "Alchemist" appeared, in which it is thus alluded to:[…]

Word Forms

• chiauses
• chiaous
• chiause
• chiaush
• Chiauss
• chiauss
• Chiaux
• chiaux
• chiaoux
• chiausing
• chiaused

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include cadilesker, courtman, chaunceller, courtier, apocrisarius, chauncelour.

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