Middle English Dictionary Entry
chacchen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | chacchen v. |
| Etymology | A blend, whether real or merely scribal, of chacen & cacchen, already reflected in the French. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. cacchen v. and chacen v. The three verbs are essentially one, the differences reflecting variety in French and Anglo-French, with considerable overlap of meaning but also at least the beginnings of a split between 'chase' and 'catch' senses.
1.
(a) To drive or impel (sb. to do sth.); (b) ~ awei, to repel (sth.), drive away; (c) to charge or accuse (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)293 : So charite chacchiþ men to þis iust jugement.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1959 : To chache Mankynde fro ȝene cote In-to dedly synne.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)431 : Lawe & skile chacchiþ men to ȝyue to trewe prestis þes dymes.
b
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.43v : Dragaunce .. the odor þerof chacchth awey neddres & venenous bestes; if a body be oynt with þe ious, non neddre haþ powere to hurte it ne to neyhyn it.
c
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1721 : Thus þay chiden with charite and chacheth eche other, That til þe day of dome þe dele is not parfourmid.
2.
(a) To seize, lay hold of (sb.), catch; also, assemble (men); ~ aboute, ?putter around; (b) to get or contract (sth.); chached in care, beset by troubles; (c) to grasp or understand (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.180 : Ȝif ȝe chacche lyȝere, let him not a-skape.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1281 : Þe semely kyng chacches his bernes..& fra þe sege wendis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1804 : At ilke cote a kene curre, as he þe chache wald; Bot as bremely as he baies, he bitis neuir þe fastir.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21429 : Houndys..ffor to cachche me venysoun..To chachche and brynge what they may Hoom to my larder.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)424 : [Merlin] com to the fier and be-gan to chacche and frote a-boute the fier, and saugh the mete.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)649 : The Geaunte..tasted to chacche the kynge in his armes.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)748 : Hent þe þare..Cure..chache [Dub: cache] nowe a schame.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)1115 : And releued in the Haly Land Cayteffes that wer chached in care, Pressed in prisouns.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)370/110 : I stode on my stumpe..There chachid I the crumpe.
c
- c1390 Off a trewe loue (Vrn)6 : Þou maiȝt..lerne ffor to loue þi lemmon, Þat trewest is of alle berne And most of loue chacche con.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4227 : We miȝt sum connynge, per cas, chach of ȝoure wordis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 265/19 : Take dry calke, and a lytyl safferon, and glayr of a nege, and grynd them longe togedyr tyl hit be sumwhatte chachand, and then do hit yn a horne.
Note: Pres. ppl. chacching, chacchand as adj. New sense = Perh. 'sticky' (as Clarke's gloss reads); or 'thick, viscous' (Cf. MED cacchen v., sense 1.(h) 'to thicken, become jellied'.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: AND treats the 'catch', 'chase', and 'chatch' spellings under the same entry, viz. chacer 1 (vrr. chacier, chacher, chachier, chascer, chaszer, chazer; chaicer, chaiser, chiacer; cacer, cacher, cachier; caser).