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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chose, Chois, n. Also: chos, choise, choys(e; schose, shoyse. [ME. chois, choys (c 1300), OF. chois.The representation of OF. oi by ō is normal. The later oi, oy, is originally a graphic variant of this, but may latterly have been identified with the English diphthong in choice. In some instances the rhyme indicates that oi, oy, is equivalent to u, ui, as in Chose v.: for these see Chuse n.]

1. An act or opportunity of choosing; a choice.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 264.
Giff that thaim war set in chos, To dey, or to leyff cowartly
1400 Maxwell Mem. I. 140.
The sayd chose tane, the sayd Schyr Ion … sal resyngne vp … all the rycht that in hym ys of that land
1416 Ib. 149.
The said Sir Robert findand hym borowys for the said male at his awne chose
1456 Hay I. 69/18.
Sa, be force, and nocht be the chos of the peplis, electioun was first conquest
c1475 Wall. iv. 593.
Her is no chos, bot owdir do or de
Ib. vi. 51.
Scho be chos has bath hyr luff and lord
a1500 Seven S. 845.
Better chos war for to de Than evire in det and mister be
1507 Rec. Earld. Orkney 79.
[He] sal haffe that tother halff and the forst chose of the heyd chymys
a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 504.
That I may touch thy tone … Or turse thé out of Scotland: tak thy chose
15.. Clar. i. 1547.
Of thir knichtis my chose if I sould have, Clariodus I chuse above the leave
1575 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 43.
We haue hard na mentioun be yow … of quhome [ye are] to mak chose of for your officiarris
a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1219.
Except the cherrie be his chose, Be ȝe his friends, we are his foes
1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 168.
We had specially maid chose of you to be witnessis
1600-1610 Melvill 45.
To mak schose of the men of best giftes
Ib. 442.
That the Kirk should mak chose of thair awin commissionars
1619 Highland P. III. 309.
I haue maid chose of young Laweris
1626 Garden Worthies 16.
A generall, nought be my chance bot chose, In Palestine wnto the warrs I went
c1650 Spalding I. 37.
His Majestie made chose to ryd in King James the Fourtis rob royall
(b) c1475 Wall. x. 258.
Twa choys thar is, the best I rede ws waill
a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1181.
Say me ane chois, the tane of thir twa
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 46.
Gif ȝe think, had ȝe chois, that ȝe wald cheis better
Ib. 54. Ib. lxxvi. 4.
A fre chois gevin to Paradice or Hell
1535 Stewart 61093.
Ane ladie … the dur did clois, Into that tyme thair wes na vther chois
a1568 Bann. MS. 139 a/65.
Thocht thow suppois [to] haif at thy chois, I reid the for the nanis [etc.]
Ib. 244 b/7.
Aft tymis lufe chesis ane vnlyk chois [: ros]
1575 Edinb. Test. III. 310.
That the said Jonet haif the first chois thairof
1579 Conv. Burghs I. 85.
The vther tovne salhave thair chois quhilk of the fyve men they will cheis to be ouerisman
a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 5.
Nane can eschew nor haue thair chance at choys [: depois]
1596 Dalr. II. 236/5.
I prescriue him na law, but rather gyue him his choise
1615 Mure Misc. P. x. 32.
Let death … alter alone our choyse and electioune
1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 258.
I have med choise to put him in my comoune
1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 113.
James Robiesoune … is maid choyse of to be visitour of the mwire
1656 Conv. Burghs III. 424.
To mak choys of the nyn traficqueing merchandis
1674 Edinb. Test. LXXV. 52 b.
I doe recomend to them to mak shoyse of … thair mother to be curatrex to them
1691 Lauder Journal 302.
John Ramsay … was made choyse of … with this extravagant priveledge

2. That which is specially chosen; the best or most excellent thing or person. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 193.
With all the choise of Venus cheualry Thay come
Ib. xii. 82.
Sweyrd of knightheid and choise of cheualry
Ib. lxxxvi. 6 (A).
Of ladyis chose as is of letteris A
15.. Clar. iv. 104.
Hir … of all womanheid the only chose
c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 103.
Thair was of blis baith the waill and chois [: suppois]
a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 5.
Hir … quha … of all vertew choise is and elect
c1590 Fowler 133/200.
The fairest face of feminine, yea, of the world the chose
c1600 Montg. Suppl. 212/3.
Thow art the chois [: formois], Ane lantern and ane lamp of lycht
1626 Garden Worthies 106.
Thow was Minerva's child, the Muses chose

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"Chose n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/chose_n>

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