Sc. Also 6 cheild, 6– chiel. [App. a variant of CHILD.
For Child in its ordinary sense BAIRN is used in Sc. The chief difficulty with chield is phonetic: in no other word is Eng. -ild (-əild) represented by (-īld) in Sc. But no other origin for the word has suggested itself.]
† 1. In chamber-chield = valet; see CHAMBER sb. 13. Obs.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 703. With ane sword … His chalmer cheild and all the laif, to deid … he pot thame all.
c. 1565. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot., 27 (Jam.). He called for his chamber-chiels, and caused them to light candles.
2. A familiar term for man, esp. young man, lad; ‘fellow,’ ‘chap.’
a. 1758. Ramsay, Poet. Wks. (1844), 83. Twa sturdy chiels.
1786. Burns, Dream, iv. But facts are chiels that winna ding, And downa be disputed. Ibid. (1789), On Captain Grose, i. A chield ’s amang you taking notes.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xvii. She’s breaking her heart … about this wild chield.
3. ‘= CHILD in Aberdeenshire’ (Jamieson).
1768. Ross, Helenore, 73 (Jam.). Heard ye nae word, gin he had chiel or chare? [(?) child or dear].
1790. Shirrefs, Gloss., Chiel, child; Wi’ chiel, with child.
