(gen. in pl.). Forms: 3, 6 cheterling, 5 chytyr-, chiterlynge, 6 chyter-, chetter-, chytterlyng, chiterling, 7 chiter-, 7–9 chitterlin, 6– chitterling. [Found also in the dial. forms chidling, chitling, chitter, chitteril; the primary form and derivation are doubtful. The Germ. kutteln chawdrons, MHG. kutel, agrees in sense, but has only a remote relation phonetically, coming nearest to the form chidling.]
1. The smaller intestines of beasts, as of the pig, esp. as an article of food prepared by frying or boiling. Sometimes filled with mince-meat or force-meat, as a kind of sausage.
c. 1280. R. de Graystanes, in Hist. Dunelm. Script. tres (1839), 57. [Women quarrelling as they wash ‘inwards’ at the stream] Deinde solebamus crines evellere pungnis, cum cheterlingis et monifauldes mutuo nos cedere [= cædere].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 76. Chytyrlynge, scrutellum, scrutum.
1530. Palsgr., 205/1. Chyterlyng, endoile.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 22 a. The inwarde of beastes, as trypes and chytterlynges.
1585. J. Higins, Junius’ Nomenclator, A haggise: some call it a chitterling: some a hogs harslet.
1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., I. vii. Wks. 1873, II. 40. How fare I?… as well as heart can wish, with Calves chaldrons and chitterlings.
1611. Cotgr., Andouille, a linke, or chitterling; a big hogges gut stuffed with small guts [etc.], cut into small pieces, and seasoned with pepper and salt.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. II. 39/120. His warped Ear hung o’er the strings, Which was but Sowce to Chitterlings.
1747–96. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, v. Fill up your Chitterlings with the stuffing.
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Chitterils, the stomach of the pig, eaten as tripes.
1878. Dickinson, Cumberl. Gloss., Chitters, the small entrails of the goose or sheep.
b. transf. and fig.
1617. Minsheu, Ductor, Chitterlin or fat gut, G. le gras boyeau.
1619. Middleton, Inner Temp. Masque, Wks. V. 139. I know him by his gauntness, his thin chitterlings; He would undo a tripe-wife.
1666. Wharton, Wks. (1683), 413. Th’ Indignities once offer’d to our King, Reduce ye [Dutch] from a Cheese, t’a Chitterling.
1687. Shadwell, Juvenal, 305.
| Tho’ all the Night he dallies, ’tis in vain, | |
| It still does a poor Chiterlin remain. |
† 2. A frill, ruff, or ornamental pleating; esp. the frill down the breast of a shirt. Obs.
[It has been suggested that this use is due to the likeness of such a frill to the mesentery, called by Butchers the ‘frill’ or ‘crow’: cf. Ger. gekröse used in same way.]
[1568. Like Will to Like, in Hazl., Dodsley, III. 310. I learn’d to make ruffs like calves chitterlings.]
1576. Gascoigne, Delic. Diet Droonkardes (1786), 18. Of a French ruffe, [we make] an English Chytterling.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., I. 120. Let … Chitterlings be worne for statute lace.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag., xvii. (1824), 323. Exuberant chitterlings … puffed out at the neck and bosom.
1849. Sir G. Head, Tour Many Days Rome, I. 70. Arranging his paper rumes and chitterlin.
b. attrib., like a chitterling, frilled in the manner of a chitterling. Obs. exc. dial.
1766. [C. Anstey], Bath Guide, xi. (1804), 92. With a chitterlin shirt, and a buckle of stone.
1842. Akerman, Wiltshire Gloss., s.v., Here comes old Warder wi’ his chitterlin vrill.
3. [Treated as dim. of CHIT sb.1] A little chit.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scoft, 163. She was but poor ten years old, A little snotty Chitterling.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. iii. 176. ‘I’ll soon stop thy prate, chitterling!’
