vulgar corruption of CHAISE [as if this had been a plural word chay-s; cf. cherry, Chinee, pea]; cf. also SHAY.
1764. Foote, Mayor of G., I. i. There’s Mr. Sneak keeps my sister a chay.
1771. Mackenzie, Man Feel., xxxiii. (1803), 56. The pleasure of keeping a chay of one’s own.
1814. Mad. D’Arblay, Wanderer, III. 77. You know our chay-cart of old.
1839. Dickens, Tuggs’s at Ramsg., Sk. Boz, 369. ‘How shall we go?’… ‘A chay?’ suggested Mr. Joseph Tuggs. ‘Chaise,’ whispered Mr. Cymon. ‘I should think one would be enough,’ said Mr. Joseph. ‘However, two chays, if you like.’
