Obs. Also 6–7 chaune, 7 chawne, choane. Like the sb. found about 1600, and during the early part of 17th c. The vb. was probably from the sb.: cf. CHINE sb.1 and v.1] Hence Chawned, Chawning ppl. adjs.
1. intr. To gape open.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 435. That the threshing floors should be wrought and tempered with oile lees, that they might not chawn & gape. Ibid. (1610), Camden’s Brit., I. 512. Arches … now chinking and chawning for age.
1610. W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. viii. 19. Salt, bitter, chauning, burnt, parched … grounds.
2. trans. To cleave or rive asunder; to cause to gape open.
1600. Marston, Antonio & Mell., I. iii. O thou all-bearing earth … O chaune thy breast, And let me sinke into thee.
1611. Cotgr., Crevasser, to chop, chawne, chap, chinke, riue or cleaue asunder. Ibid., Fendiller, to … chap, choane, open.
3. trans. = CHINE v.2
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxviii. 235. Chawned cod.
