Obs. Forms: 5 chevrelle, 5–7 cheverell(e, 5–8 cheverel, (6 chaverell), 6–7 chiverel(l, cheveril(l. [ME. chevrelle, a. OF. chevrele, -elle kid (Romanic type *caprella, dim. of chèvre:—capra, she-goat; in mod.F. replaced by the synon. chevrette.]
1. lit. Kid; but always used in the sense of the full cheverel-leather, kid-leather. (Noted for its pliancy and capability of being stretched.)
a. 1400. Cov. Myst. (1841), 241. Two doseyn poyntys of cheverelle, the aglottes of sylver feyn.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 73. Cheurelle, leddare.
1530. Palsgr., 205/1. Cheverell lether, cheuerotin.
1576. Curteys, Two Serm. (J.). The nature of Cheuerel Leather is, that if a man take it by the sides & pul it in breadth he may make a little Point as brode as bothe his hands. If he take it by the ends and pull it in length: he may make it as small as a threed.
1589. Pappe w. Hatchet, D ij. If they make their consciences stretch like chiuerel in the raine.
1609. Armin, Maids of More-Cl. (1880), 108. A gloue of warmth, Not cheuerell.
1755. Johnson, Cheveril … now obsolete.
fig. 1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iv. 87. Here’s a wit of cheverell, that stretches from an ynch to an ell broad.
2. attrib. Made of cheverel-leather.
1515. Will of Symson (Somerset Ho.). Cheverell purse.
1549. Chaloner, Erasm. on Folly, R j a. To streche out heaven, that is to saie holy writte, lyke a cheverell skynne.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. i. 13. A sentence is but a cheu’rill gloue to a good witte, how quickely the wrong side may be turn’d outward.
1607. Topsell, Serpents, 734. Stretching like a cheverell-glove.
b. fig. Of the nature of cheverel-leather; stretching, flexible, pliable, yielding, elastic; esp. in phrase a cheverel conscience.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 12. The lawiers have such chauerell consciences.
1605. T. Hutton, Reasons for Refusal, 62. In his cheverel fancie.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. iii. 32. The Capacity Of your soft Chiuerell Conscience.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, IV. 4. Cheverel-consciences, which will stretch any way for advantage.
1673. Hickeringill, Gregory’s Father Greyb., 302. With wide open Mouth and Cheveril Lungs. Ibid. (1705), Priest-Craft, II. vii. 72. Get Cheverel-Charity, that will stretch, wide, wide.
3. Comb., as cheverel-brained, -conscienced.
1608. Day, Law Trickes, IV. i. (1881), 58. Ile see which of my cheuerill braind immitators dares follow my fashion.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Praise Hempseed, Wks. III. 73/2. A cheuerell conscienced Vsurer.
