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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.

Chas(e, Chace, Chais, n. Also: chaice, cheace; chais(s)e, cheiss(e; chays, cheas, ches. [ME. chas(e, chace, OF. chace.]

1. The pursuit of a fleeing enemy. Also fig.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 62.
Quhen that the lord of Lorne saw His men stand off him ane sik aw, That thai durst nocht folow the chase [etc.] Ib. viii. 371; etc.
King Robert … Abaid all still … Till that his men left all the chas a1400 Leg. S. iv. 304.
The bryge brak, and thar dronyt all, That mad the chas c1420 Wynt. vi. 2233.
A knycht, that in that chas Till this Macbeth than nerest was Ib. viii. 3928.
The Inglis men folowyd on the chas. In that chas slayne war rycht mony c1475 Wall. v. 935.
Horsis thai ran to stuff the chas gud spede Ib. 976.(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6421.
In the chace mony thare War takyn 1456 Hay I. 48/11.
How he, efter the chace of Hanyball, tuke his voyage with … men of armys c1475 Wall. viii. 202.
A danger chace thai mycht vpon ws mak 1513 Doug. i. vii. 88.
The Grekis fled and Troianys followis the chace 1531 Bell. Boece II. 61.
On quhome followit the Britonis with lang chace 1535 Stewart 28825.
Into the chace that da wer slane far mo Nor in the feild c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3183.
The Yndianis followit on the chace 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 277.
In the said chace thair wer slane … of Inglismen ane trumpetour a1578 Pitsc. II. 110/23.
Ane great airmie of Ingland … wer so chassit, slaine and taine at their returning, quhilk was callit the Tuysdayis chace a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 89.
The day befoir the suddane nichtis chaice dois not so suiftlie go(c) 1448 Acts I. 351/2.
He … that strikis doun ane man of hors bak in the chais 1513 Doug. v. x. 86.
Thai … countyrfatis a chays In maner of bargane 1558-66 Knox I. 393.
The Lord Seytoun … brak a chaise upoun Alexander Quhitelaw, … and ceassit not to persew him 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 300.
He … wes suspectit of the skaith the toun men gott at this chais c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiii. 12 (M).
The nicht Quhilk dois thé follow with ane ythand chaise 1596 Dalr. I. 166/14.
His purpose alluterlie was to follow the chaisse Ib. 305/20.
He gaue the Danes classe a chais(d) 1570 Leslie 135.
Thair wes foure score … of Balcleuchis cumpany slane in the cheisse 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 37.
Thair was not many slane at this ches a1578 Pitsc. II. 287/26.
The said Adames cumpanie gaue thame the ches and slew and tuik mony of thame 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1848.
That he, into the tyme of wear, May follow at the cheace 1680 Red Bk. Menteith II. 184.
He thoght … that your Lordship might turn the cheass vpon him

2. The pursuit of wild animals or game. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 94.
As the herd brokine was, Quha best mycht rane to the chas c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 54.
The wolf he ombesett the hous, Vpoun the tod to mak ane chace 1513 Doug. i. vi. 34.
With lowd cry followand the chays Eftir the fomy bayr 1531 Bell. Boece I. 139.
Quhen the houndis war manyeit be adventure of chais Ib. II. 297.
Desirus to haif sum … solace be chace of hundis in the said forest 1622-6 Bisset II. 234/28.
Quhen these hundis war hurte be adventoure of chaice