释义 |
▪ I. † chire1 Obs. Also 4 schyre, 5 chyre, 6 chyer, 7 chier, cheyre. [This appears first as a variant reading for chipe; subseq. chive appears as a variant of this. What are the precise relations between chithe, chire, chive, it is difficult to say; chive might be a phonetic corruption of chithe or a graphic alteration of chire: see chithe, chive n.2] A sprout, a slender blade of grass, etc.; the pistil or stamen of flowers; a fibre.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xci. (Harl. MS. 4789) In þe myddel stondeþ schyres of saffron [Harl. 614 chiris; Bodl., & B.M. Addit. 27944 chiþes; Wynkyn de Worde 1495 (659) chyres; Berthelet 1535 chyues.] 1483Cath. Angl., A Chire, genimen. 1591Drayton Harmony, Song Solomon ii, As lily flower excells the thorn or little chyer of grass. 1611Cotgr., Fibres, The small strings, or haire-like threads of roots..in Lincolne-shire they are tearmed Cheyres. 1615Markham Eng. Housew. ii. vi. (1668) 149 Pick out of it all manner of motes, chiers of grass. ▪ II. † chire2 Obs. Form of kire, OE. cyre, Choice. The palatalization of c before an umlaut vowel was unknown to OE.: chire was doubtless influenced by the ch forms of the cognate vb. cheosen, and the increasing extension of ch- to the parts which had properly k. See choose.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 219 God..let hi..habben aȝen chire. ▪ III. [chire v. ? misprint for chew. (Halliwell explains ‘to feast or make cheer’.)
1598Bp. Hall Sat. ii. ii. 113 What tho he chires on purer manchets crowne. ] |