Obs. Forms: 1 céast, 2–5 cheste, 3 cheast, 3–4 cheaste, 4 chyste, cheeste, (Ayenb.) chyaste, 4–5 chest, 5 (?) chost. [OE. céast, app. a later refashioning of the equivalent OE. céas (by addition of the ordinary -t of nouns of action: cf. OE. hǽs, ME. hest). Céas fem. corresponds to OHG. kôsa point of dispute:—WGer. *kausa, app. a. L. caussa cause, matter of dispute, lawsuit, etc.] Strife, contention, quarrelling.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 116. Seditio, folcslite, uel æswicung, sacu, ceast.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 111. Þet clene wif scunað ȝitsunge and cheste ne sturað.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 200. Þe uormest is Cheaste, oðer Strif.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 29. Now pais holdith, and leteth cheste.
1340. Ayenb., 67. Efter þe chyaste we zetteþ þe zenne of grochinge.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 109. Ferly me þinketh But chest be þere charite shulde be.
1382. Wyclif, James iv. 1. Wherof bateyles and cheestes, or chidinges, among ȝou?
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 1638. Withoutyn ony more chest Thay dyden the emperour hest.
c. 1450. Myrc, 1477. Hast þou I-lyued … in chest [ed. chost] and stryf Wyþ þy meyne and wyþ þy wyf?
