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Chivy or Chivvy

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Slang for the face Much slang is due to rhyme, and when the rhyme is a compound word the rhyming part is sometimes dropped and the other part remains. Thus Chivy [Chevy]-chase rhymes with “face,” by dropping “chasechivy remains, and becomes the accepted slang word. Similarly, daisies = boots, thus: daisy-roots will rhyme with “boots,” and by dropping “roots,” the rhyme, daisy remains. By the same process sky is the slang for pocket, the compound word which gave birth to it being “sky-rocket.” “Christmas” the slang for a railway guard, as “Ask the Christmas,” is, of course, from the rhymeChristmas-card”; and “raspberry” the slang for heart, is from the rhymeraspberry-tart.”

“Then came a knock at the Rory oʹMore [door].

Which made my raspherry beat.”

Other examples given under their proper heads.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Chintz
Chios (Kios)
Chip or Chips
Chip of the Old Block (A)
Chiron [Kiron]
Chirping Cup or Glass
Chisel
Chitty-faced
Chivairy
Chivy
Chivy or Chivvy
Chloe (Kloee)
Chloe
Chœreas [Kereas]
Choice Spirit (A)
Choke
Choke-pear
Choker (A)
Chop and Chops
Chop-fallen
Chop-House (A)