Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 chestlock, 7 cheslok, 9 dial. cheeselog. [Of uncertain etymology.
On one side the word appears related to the equivalent cheslop, CHEESELIP; on the other, the form chest-lock appears to be supported by an equivalent lock-chest, lock-chester ‘wood-louse,’ found by J. O. Halliwell in use in Oxfordshire, and occurring in Promp. Parv. as locchester; also by the equivalent name CHEST-WORM.]
A woodlouse, allied animal.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 94. The timber that is not seasoned, is spoiled with chestlockes.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon. (1634), 128. Ashes strewed on the outside of the Hive, will not suffer … Earwig, Cheslok, or black Blatta to harbour there.
1888. Gardener fr. Bucks says ‘We used to call them [wood-lice] cheeselogs.’ C. B. Mount.
