Forms: 3 chaere, 4 cheiere, chaȝer, 4–5 chaier(e, chayer(e, 5 chaiare, chare, schayer, cheyer, cheare, chayr, 5–7 chayre, 6 cheyar, 6–7 chaire, 7– chair. [ME. chaere, chaiere, a. OF. chaëre (western and Anglo-Fr.), chaiere (= Pr. cadera, cadeira, Cat. cadira, OSp. cadera, Pg. cadeira):—L. cate·dra, cathedra seat, a. Gr. καθέδρα, see CATHEDRA. Cha-iè-re was the regular OF. phonetic descendant of cat-e·d-ra; it was in Eng. also orig. of three syllables, afterward reduced to two cha·-yer, and finally (? under later F. influence) to one, chair. In the dialects it is still commonly of two, as Sc. cha-yer (tſē·yər). In mod. Fr. the phonetic variant chaise (see CHAISE) has taken the popular senses, while chaire is restricted to the ecclesiastical or professorial cathedra.]
1. A seat for one person (always implying more or less of comfort and ease); now the common name for the movable four-legged seat with a rest for the back, which constitutes, in many forms of rudeness or elegance, an ordinary article of household furniture, and is also used in gardens or wherever it is usual to sit. To take a chair: to take a seat, be seated.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9954. A tron of iuor graid. Was neuer yeitt king ne kaiser, Þat euer sait in sli[c] chaier [G. chayer, T. chaiere, F. cheiere].
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 321. Up a chaere he [Cnut] sat adoun, al vp þe see sonde.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxi. 12. He turnyde vpsadoun the bordis of chaungeris, and the chaiers of men sellynge culueris. Ibid. (1382), Song of Sol. iii. 9. A chaȝer … of the trees of Liban.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxiii. 253. Men setten him in a Chayere.
c. 1450. Nominale, in Wr.-Wülcker, 723. Hec cathedra, a chare.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxi. 362. He sholde do sette ther a cheyer.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 40. Tables, coberdes, cofers & chayres. Ibid. (1555), Decades W. Ind., I. v. (Arb.), 85. Thynges necessary to bee vsed, as cheyars.
1564. Haward, Eutropius, IV. 39. In a chaire fast besides him.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. ii. 17. Like a Barbers chaire that fits all buttockes.
1704. Steele, Lying Lover, II. (1747), 36. Set chairs and the Bohea Tea and leave us.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 141, ¶ 10. Mistaking a lady’s lap for my own chair.
1753. Scots Mag., XV. 36/2. She … desired me to take a chair.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xlvi. Take a chair.
1853. Mrs. Gaskell, Cranford, viii. (1864), 116. The chairs were all a-row against the walls.
b. With various substantives or adjs. indicating the nature, material, purpose, etc., as bed-, bedroom, camp, cane, compass, folding, garden, hall, kitchen, leather, library, lobby, obstetrical, office, rocking, swinging, Turkey, wheel-chair; † great-chair (dial. big-chair), an arm-chair. Also ARM-, BATH- (sb.2), CURULE-, EASY-, ELBOW-CHAIR.
1580. Baret, Alv., C 295. A compasse chaire: halfe a circle, hemicyclus.
1711. Steele, Spect., 52, ¶ 3. An easy chair … at the upper End of the Table.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 72, ¶ 4. The great Elbow-chair which stands at the upper end of the Table.
1737. Ozell, Rabelais, V. 220. Easy Leather-Chairs made … with … Springs.
1790. J. C. Smyth, in Med. Commun., II. 477. I … found him … sitting in a great chair.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 539. Having requested the indulgence of an easy chair at the sittings of the French Academy, of which he was a Member, the King, instead of one easy chair, sent forty to the Academy.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., IV. i. (1849), 145. He sat in the swinging chair.
1841. Thackeray, Sec. Fun. Nap., iii. A servant passes, pushing through the crowd a shabby wheel-chair.
2. fig. a. Seat.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. xxxv. Yf ye wyll tell me where your herte is set. In the chayre of sorowe no great doubt it is.
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr.), ix. 4. Our soules sit in a sure chaire of a certaine expectation.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxv. § 7. Imagination, the only storehouse of wit and peculiar chair of memory.
1738. Wesley, Psalms, i. 1. The Persecutor’s Guilt to share Oppressive in the Scorner’s Chair.
b. As an attribute of old age, when rest is the natural condition.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. ii. 51. Ibid., IV. v. 5. When saplesse Age, and weake vnable limbes Should bring thy Father to his drooping Chaire.
3. A seat of authority, state or dignity; a throne, bench, judgment-seat, etc.
a. 1300. [see 1].
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1218. Nabigo-de-nozar noble in his chayer.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. iv. 125. Ianus with double face In his chare hath take his place.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., 400 (Add. MS.). Sette hym in the Chayere as domysman.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. i. (Arb.), 21. O how it greeues my vexed soule to see, Each painted asse in chayre of dignitie.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 764. At the Soldans chair Defi’d the best of Panim chivalry.
1757. Gray, Bard, II. iii. Close by the regal chair Fell Thirst and Famine scowl.
1879. Maclear, Celts, ix. 146. Holdelm … was chosen by him as the seat of his episcopal chair.
b. fig. Place or situation of authority, etc.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxiii. 2. Vpon the chaier of Moyses, scribis and Pharisees seeten.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6891. ‘Uppon the chaire of Moyses’ … That is the olde testament.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 38. Euery man may not syt in the chayre.
1692. Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. Pop., iii. (1851), 82. He and Tiberius got into the Chair by the Tricks and Artifices of their Mothers.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1788. He rooted out the slothful officer … And in their chairs set up a stronger race.
4. The seat of a bishop in his church; hence fig. episcopal dignity or authority. Obs. or arch.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., xl. 28. Seynt peter preched in antyoche and ther he made a noble chirche in whiche he sate fyrste in his chaier.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John, II. (1611), L iv. And with his feete treades downe the Strumpets pride, That sits vpon the chaire of Babylon.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 337. S. Peter would have advanc’d him to the Honour and power of the Bishops chaire.
1674. Brevint, Saul at Endor, 15. His first Chair, namely that of Antioch.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. X. 465. Henry … took measures, not only to humble Becket, but also to lower that Chair [of Canterbury].
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. vi. 292–3. Ealdhun now moved his chair … to a site nobler than that occupied by any other minster in England.
† b. = SEE. Obs.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 3. It is the chaire of an Archbishop; inhabited for the most by Grecians.
1647. [see 4 a].
† 5. A pulpit. Obs.
1648. Milton, Tenure Kings, 41. A dreadfull charge, not performed by mounting twise into the chair with a formal preachment.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 1279. Whether he preach in chair, or print in book.
6. The seat from which a professor or other authorized teacher delivers his lectures.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. vi. 518. To be rad … in the chaier of scolis.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 506. His prudent presiding in the Professors chair.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc. (1711), III. 219. Our Saviour … should have taken the chair, and have given the Inquisitive World a clear determination concerning the Question.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 14. Give that small Insect you contemn, The Chair in Porch or Academ.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 4. 129. English scholars gathered in thousands round the chairs of William of Champeaux or Abelard.
b. Hence: The office or position of a professor.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxxi. Fighting his way to a chair of rhetoric.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, xii. Wks. (Bohn), II. 93. Many chairs and many fellowships are made beds of ease.
1875. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., Pref. p x. note. When the above was written the author had still the Chair of Poetry at Oxford.
7. A seat of judicial inquiry; a tribunal.
1629. Charles I., in H. Cox, Instit., I. ix. (1863), 158. Now there are so many chairs erected, to make inquiry upon all sorts of men.
1645. Milton, Colast., Wks. (1851), 348. For a Licenser is not contented now to give his single Imprimatur, but brings his chair into the Title leaf; there sits and judges up or judges down what book hee pleases.
8. The seat, and hence the office, of the chief magistrate of a corporate town; mayorship. Past, above, or below the Chair (of aldermen of the City of London): having served or not served as Lord Mayor.
1682. Eng. Elect. Sheriffs, 26 Some people … did so industriously stickle for Sir John Moor’s Election to the Chair.
1714. Lond. Gaz., No. 5261/4. The Aldermen below the Chair on Horseback in Scarlet Gowns.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Chain, A gold chain … remains to the person after his being divested of that magistrature, as a mark that he has passed the Chair.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 263. The judges are the lord-mayor, the aldermen past the chair, and the recorder.
1885. Whitaker’s Almanack, 251. All the above have passed the Civic Chair.
9. The seat occupied by the person presiding at a meeting, from whence he directs its business; hence, the office or dignity of chairman of a meeting, or of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
In various phrases, as To take the chair, to assume the position of chairman, which in most cases formally opens a meeting; to put in the chair, to elect as chairman; in the chair, acting as chairman; to leave or vacate the chair, to cease acting as chairman, which marks the close of a meeting.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IV. (1843), 118/1. The committee of the Commons appointed Mr. Pym to sit in their chair.
1659. in Burton, Diary (1828), IV. 462. I move that your Speaker forbear the Chair.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 536. That the thanks of this meeting be given to Dr. Brandreth, for his cool and patient attention and conduct in the Chair.
1807. Crabbe, Newspaper, 163. Pleased to guide His little club, and in the chair preside.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. John Hampden … was put into the chair.
b. Often put for the occupant of the chair, the chairman, as invested with its dignity (as the throne is for the sovereign), e.g., in the cry Chair! Chair! when the authority of the chairman is appealed to, or not duly regarded; to address the chair, support the chair, etc.
1658–9. in Burton, Diary, 23 March (1828), 243. The Chair behaves himself like a Busby amongst so many school-boys … and takes a little too much on him.
1676–7. Grew, Salts in Water, i. § 1 (Read bef. Royal Soc.). It was referred to Me by this Honourable Chair, to examine and produce the Experiment.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., i. Cries of ‘Order,’ ‘Chair,’ ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ ‘Go on.’
1860. All Y. Round, No. 46. 475. An amiable discussion between the ‘chair’ and an … obstinate person at the other end of the room.
1887. Times, 5 Sept., 9/2. It can hardly be conceived that the Chair would fail to gain the support of the House.
c. pl. The chairman and deputy chairman of the East India Company.
1772. Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 344. This seems to be the scheme most approved by the chairs.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 499. Letter from the Chairs to the Right Honourable Robert Dundas, 16th December, 1808.
† 10. An enclosed chair or covered vehicle for one person, carried on poles by two men; a sedan.
1634. Sir S. Duncombe’s Patent for setting up Sedans, in Pegge, Curial. Misc., 290. In many parts beyond the seas the people there are much carried in the streets in chairs that are covered.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 12. Using close chayres or sedans.
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, II. ii. Thy Mask will cover all. There is a chair below in the Entry to carry thee.
1713. Swift, Cadenus & V. She … lik’d three footmen to her chair.
1722. Steele, Consc. Lovers, I. ii. Call a Chair!
1752. Johnson, Rambl., No. 195, ¶ 6. At the proper time a chair was called.
1777. Sheridan, Trip Scarb., II. i. Help the gentleman into a chair, and carry him to my house.
1836. J. Mayne, Siller Gun, V. xli. 147. The Belle and Beau, In chairs and chariots, stop the way—A splendid show!
† 11. A light vehicle drawn by one horse; a chaise; also a particular kind of light chaise (see quot. 1795). Obs.
1753. Scots Mag., XV. Jan., 31/2. The profits … have enabled me to set up a one-horse chair.
1761. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, III. xxiv. 124. There is not a greater difference between a single-horse chair and madam Pompadour’s vis a vis.
1795. W. Felton, Carriages (1801), II. 184. A chair is a light chaise without pannels for the use of parks and gardens, and is a name commonly applied to all light Chaises.
1821. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Wife, I. 614. As I please to take the air, Command the ponies to a chair.
12. Railways. † a. The support or carriage of a rail (cf. CARRIAGE 32 b). Obs. b. An iron or steel socket with a deep notch, into which the rail is fixed, and by which it is secured to the sleeper or cross-tie.
1816. Specif. Losh & Stephenson’s Patent, No. 4067. 2. To fix both the ends of the rails … immoveable in or upon the chairs or props by which they are supported.
1836. Sir G. Head, Home Tour, 204. Each of these sleepers, being a heavy block of stone, having a small cradle of iron, or chair as it is called, riveted on the top for the purpose of supporting the rails.
1862. Smiles, Engineers, III. 131. The flat base of the chair upon which the rails rested being tilted.
13. Min. (See quot.)
1802. J. Mawe, Min. Derbysh., Gloss., Chair. Used in drawing up ore or coal.
14. Phrase. To put in the chair. (slang.)
1864. Soc. Sc. Rev., I. 408. Some hirers [i.e., drivers of cabs] … boast of the number of owners whom they have ‘put in the chair’ or in polite English neglected to pay.
15. Comb., as chair-back, -bearer, -bottoming, -caner, -cover, -hire, -leg, -maker, -mare, -mending, -room, -saddle, -slumber; chair-ridden, -shaking, adjs.; chair-bed, -bedstead, a kind of chair that can be unfolded into a bed; † chair-boll, -bow, a chair-back; chair-days, old age, when rest in a chair is the most natural condition; chair-organ (see quots.); chair-rail (see quot.); † chair-volant, sedan-chair. Also CHAIRMAN, etc.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 110. *Chair-bearers or Sedan-men.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., lxxxiv. 20. Vpon the *cheyreboll hard beating his fist.
1483. Cath. Angl., 57. A *chare bowe, fultrum.
1887. J. L. Allen, in Century Mag., Oct., 858/2. The mysteries of broom-making, *chair-bottoming, and the cobbling of shoes.
1868. Times, 27 Feb., 11/4. John Turner, 16, described as a *chair caner,… was charged … with stealing a gold watch and chain.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 227. The ornaments, the reticules, bell-ropes, ottomans, and *chair-covers.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., V. ii. 48. In thy Reuerence, and thy *Chaire-dayes, thus To die in Ruffian battell.
1865. Cornh. Mag., July, 38. The end of life is the ‘sere of life.’… In Yorkshire it is ‘the chair-day.’
1762. Goldsm., Nash, 10. Who spend moro in *chair hire than housekeeping.
1813. Examiner, 14 Feb., 101–2. Bankrupts…. J. Finlayson,… *chair-maker.
1799. Jane Austen, Lett. (1884), I. 221. Price sixty guineas, of which the *chair mare was taken as fifteen.
1694. Lond. Gaz., No. 2955/4. Following the Trade of *Chairmending in the Streets.
1636–7. Royal Warrant, in N. & Q., Ser. III. (1867), XI. 11/2. Our Chapell at Hampton Court, and for the making of a newe *Chaire Organ there, Conformable to those alreadie made in our Royal Chapells at Whitehall and Greenwiche.
1879. Grove, Dict. Mus., Chair organ, a corruption of Choir organ, in use in the last century, not impossibly arising from the fact that in cathedrals the choir organ often formed the back of the organist’s seat.
1842–75. Gwilt, Archit., Gloss., *Chair Rail. A piece of wood fastened to the wall, to prevent the backs of the chairs injuring the plastering when placed against it.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 May, 4/1. [There] sat the mother … *chair-ridden by sciatica.
1664. Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 14. There comes out of the *chayre-room Mrs. Stewart.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 11 April, 11/1. A lady on a donkey in one of those *chair-saddles which supply the place of side-saddles in the south of Spain.
1819. L. Hunt, Indicator, No. 1. *Chair-shaking merriment.
1667. Denham, Direct. Painter, I. viii. 18. Rupert, that knew no fear, but health did want, Kept state suspended in a *Chair volant.
