The name of an English county. Hence the phrase [of undetermined origin] To grin like a Cheshire cat.
1770–1855. [see CAT 13 f].
1837–40. Haliburton, Clockm. (1862), 49. Lavender was there with his cowskin, grinnin like a chessy cat.
1866. ‘L. Carroll,’ Alice in Wonderland, vi.
Cheshire Cheese (a well-known kind).
1597. 1st Pt. Return fr. Parnass., Prol. 10. Hee never since durst name a peece of cheese, Thoughe Chessire seems to priviledge his name.
1638. T. Verney, in V. Papers (1853), 197. Twenty holland cheeses, or good chessheir chees.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 82. A Cheshire Cheese … at 10d. p. lb.
† Cheshire-round, ‘a rough dance’ (N.).
1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, V. ii. (Hoppe). He shall box, wrestle, or dance the Cheshire-round with any man in the country.
1707. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., II. iv. (N.). The fidlers, with their chaplets crown’d, Now gave the mob a Cheshire-round.
