[F. châssis frame, app. f. chas, late L. capsum, -us, ‘locus inclusus’; the suffix belongs to L. type -īcius, It. -iccio, Sp. -izo. Hence shashes, shasses, now sashes: see SASH; also Sc. CHESS window-frame.]
† 1. A wooden frame-work that can be fitted with paper, linen, glass, etc.; a window-frame; a SASH. Obs.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 224. Open all the Windows from ten in the Morning till three in the Afternoon: Then closing the Double-sheets, (or Chasses rather) continue a gentle Heat. Ibid. (1693), De la Quint. Compl. Gard., 5. These Windows should also be fitted within side of the House, with Chassis of doubled Paper, that is, by glewing the Sheets on both sides of the Frame; and without this, another Chassis of Glass.
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. li. 414. Chassis or Paper-Windows.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 15. The tumid Bladder bounds at every Kick, bursts the withstanding Casements, the Chassys, Lanterns, and all the brittle vitrious Ware.
2. The base-frame, forming the lower part of the carriage of a barbette or casemate gun, on which it can be slid backward and forward.
1869. Times, 18 Jan., 9/4. In all firing the chassis rails should be well sanded.
