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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHAIRGE, n. and v. Also cherge. [tʃerdʒ (see P.L.D. § 48.1. (2))]

Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. charge. ne.Sc. 2004 Press and Journal 23 Aug 14:
He wis verra much in ma thochts on that Fort William tae Mallaig road as it wis he that pit me in chairge o's fish-sellin offices an thus my introduction tae the beauties o the west an the fine fowk there.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 65:
'But noo comes Lauderdale, His Majesty's new Secretary o State, upon the scene. He'd managed tae get the site o the citadel gien intae his chairge. ... 'em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 158:
' ... First he was pit oot o the clerkship o the guild o hammermen and noo he's been chairged wi disruptin their elections. ... 'm.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 90:
The phaisie ... sprachles lik a bumbee thro the air
an gets a chairge o leidshot in his dowp.m.Sc. 1998 Lillias Forbes Turning a Fresh Eye 7:
A' thae gowden lyrics, ye've made siccar, Chris
They'll aye be pairt o ye, ticht-yirdit in the moul
Ye'll ne'er loose them frae yer chairge, yer bricht unruly bairns ...m.Sc. 2003 Guardian 3 May 52:
'Staundy. Dropped aw chairges, ken.'
'Even against your pal Eck?' wm.Sc. 1999 Hamish MacDonald The Gravy Star 21:
Then the bloody thing ran aff an swam across the Finny an cherged throw the wids an richt up the hill tae St Ronans whaur it ran amuk. Uls. 2002 Belfast News Letter 2 Feb 20:
Bit whun tha staurtet tae claud thur gear aff tha lorrie tha wus makin a quare rackit. Af caurse tha bul wusnae best pleast wae thes cerryoon aun tuk a cherge aut thum.

 The following usages are peculiar to Sc.

1. n.

(1) Expense, cost (Bnff.², Abd.², Fif.¹⁰, Arg.¹, Lnk.³ 1939; Ayr., Gall. 1898 E.D.D.). Charge in this sense is now arch. in Eng. (see N.E.D.).Sc. 1702 Records Conv. Burghs (1880) 349:
The respective burghs . . . doe put themselves to unnecessarie expences and chairges.Abd.² 1940:
The verra uphadd o' sic a steadin' maun be a gey chairge itsel'.

(2) In quot. of tea: a small amount or supply, jocularly transf. from the charge of powder in a gun. Ags. 1899 C. Sievwright Garland 53:
Lang may they live frae sorra free, Nor ever want a chairg [sic] o' tea.

2. v. “To chaff or banter (a person)” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); “to accuse banteringly” (Kcb.¹ 1940). Vbl.n. chairging, banter, chaffing.Dmf. 1912 J. and R. Hyslop Langholm as it was 741:
Tommy . . . for the sake of the refreshment he was afterwards to receive, meekly and patiently endured the “chairging” of the boys.