Naut. (See quot. 1769.)
[The sense and form would fairly suit derivation from CHASE sb.3, F. chas needle-eye, etc.; but no formal evidence in support has been found.]
1627. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., v. 23. Tackes are … reeued first thorow the chestres.
1644. Sir H. Manwayring, Seaman’s Dict., Cheteres.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. I. 18. Get the main Tack close down, in the Cheese-tree.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 210. Then to the chess-tree drag the unwilling tack. Ibid. (1769), Dict. Marine (1789), Ches-trees, two pieces of wood bolted perpendicularly, one on the starboard, and the other on the larboard side of the ship. They are used to confine the clue, or lower corners of the mainsail; for which purpose there is a hole in the upper part through which the rope passes that … extends the clue … to windward.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xv. A huge wave … struck us on the chess-tree, and deluged us … fore and aft.
