chaise
[sheyz]
- a light, open carriage, usually with a hood, especially a one-horse, two-wheeled carriage for two persons; shay.
- post chaise.
- a chaise longue, especially a light one used out of doors.
- Also called chaise d'or [sheyz dawr] /ʃeɪz ˈdɔr/. Numismatics.
- a gold coin of France, first issued in the early 14th century, which bears a figure of the king seated on a large throne.
- an Anglo-Gallic copy of this coin, issued by Edward III.
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Origin of chaise
La Chaise
[la shez]
- Père Fran·çois d'Aix de [frahn-swa de duh] /frɑ̃ˈswa dɛ də/, 1624–1709, French Roman Catholic priest: confessor to Louis XIV.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chaise
Contemporary Examples
Sprawled on chaise lounges with their knees high in the air and their legs spread wide.
When he came back, he testified, they were getting coital on a chaise longue.
Historical Examples
And her agitated hand waved to them from a chaise window, and she was gone.
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
Your messenger finds me just setting out for London: the chaise at the door.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
The horse was accordingly put in, and the chaise brought round to the door.
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens
In five minutes' time the chaise was ready, and this good scapegrace in his saddle.
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens
Barnaby, my man, help me to put him in the chaise, and we'll ride home together.'
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens
chaise
- a light open horse-drawn carriage, esp one with two wheels designed for two passengers
- short for post chaise, chaise longue
- a gold coin first issued in France in the 14th century, depicting the king seated on a throne
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Word Origin
C18: from French, variant of Old French chaiere chair
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for chaise
n.
1701, "pleasure carriage," from French chaise "chair" (15c.), dialectal variant of chaire (see chair (n.)) due to 15c.-16c. Parisian accent swapping of -r- and -s-, a habit often satirized by French writers. French chair and chaise then took respectively the senses of "high seat, throne, pulpit" and "chair, seat." Chaise lounge (1800) is corruption of French chaise longue "long chair," the second word confused in English with lounge.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper