| 释义 |
† ˈChichevache Obs.
[A perversion of chichefache, north. Fr. form of chicheface, chincheface lit. ‘thin-face’, ‘niggard-face’, ‘ugly face’, ‘une chimère dont ils font peur aux petits enfants’ (see Godefroy). The perverted chichevache = ‘ugly’ or ‘lean cow’, is found only in Eng., and, so far as is known, first in Chaucer. (See Montaiglon, Poésie franç. 15⊇ et 16⊇ siècles (1855) II. 191.)]
The proper name of a fabulous monster said to feed only on patient wives, and hence, from the scarcity of the diet, to be always lean and hungry. Cf. bycorne.
c1386Chaucer Clerk's T. 1132 O noble wyuys ful of prudence Let noon humilite ȝoure tunge nayille..Lest Chicheuache [v.r. chichi-, chyche-, chychyuache] you swolwe in hire entrayle. c1430Lydg. Chichevache & B. in Dodsley (1780) XII, Chichevache etith wymmen goode. |