lerk's Tale," 1388).

CHICK _(Mr.)_, brother-in-law of Mr. Dombey; a stout gentleman, with a
tendency to whistle and hum airs at inopportune moments. Mr. Chick is
somewhat henpecked; but in the matrimonial squalls, though apparently
beaten, he not unfrequently rises up the superior and gets his own
way.

_Louisa Chick_, Mr. Dombey's married sister. She is of a snappish
temper, but dresses in the most juvenile style, and is persuaded
that anything can be accomplished if persons will only "make an
effort."--C. Dickens, _Dombey and Son_ (1846).

CHICKEN _(The)_, Michael Angelo Taylor, barrister, so called because
in his maiden speech, 1785, he said, "I deliver this opinion with
great deference, being but a chicken in the profession of the law."

_Chicken_ (_The Game_), a low fellow, to be heard of at the bar of the
Black Badger. Mr. Toots selects this man as his instructor in fencing,
betting, and self-defence. The Chicken has short hair, a low forehead,
a broken nose, and "a considerable tract of bare and sterile country
behind each ear."--C. Dickens, _Dombey and Son_ (1846).

CHICKENS AND THE AUGURS. When the augurs told Publius Claudius
Pulcher, the Roman consul, who was about to engage the Carthaginian
fleet, that the sacred chickens would not eat, he replied, "Then toss
them into the sea, that they may drink."

CHICK'ENSTALKER (_Mrs_.), a stout, bonny, kind-hearted woman, who
keeps a general shop. Toby Veck, in his dream, imagines her married
to Tugby, the porter of sir Joseph Bowley.--C. Dickens, _The Chimes_
(1844).

CHICK'WEED (_Conkey, i.e. Nosey_), the man who robbed himself. He was
a licensed victualler on the point of failing, and gave out that he
had been robbed of 327 guineas "by a tall man with a black patch over
his eye." He was much pitied, and numerous subscriptions were made on
his behalf. A detective was sent to examine into the "robbery,"
and Chickweed would cry out, "There he is!" and run after the
"hypothetical thief" for a considerable distance, and then lose sight
of him. This occurred over and over again, and at last the detective
said to him, "I've found out who done this here robbery." "Have you?"
said Chickweed. "Yes," said Spyers, "you done it yourself." And so he
had.--C. Dickens, _Oliver Twist_, xxxi. (1837).

CHIF'FINCH (_Master Thomas_), _alias_ Will Smith, a friend of Richard
Ganlesse (2 _syl_.). The private emissary of Charles II. He was
employed by the duke of Buckingham to ca