Also 7 chiaus(e, chews, showse, 7–8 chowse. [Generally taken to be the same word as CHIAUS, chaus (so spelt about 1600), a Turkish official messenger; but the connection of meaning is not made out.
As to the origin of the Eng. use, Gifford (1814), in a note on the quot. from Ben Jonson says, ‘In 1609, Sir Robt. Shirley sent a messenger or chiaus to this country as his agent from the Grand Signior and the Sophy to transact some preparatory business. The latter ‘chiaused the Turkish and Persian merchants of £4,000’ and decamped. But no trace of this incident has yet been found outside of Gifford’s note; it was unknown to Peter Whalley, a previous editor of Ben Jonson 1756; also to Skinner, Henshaw, Dr. Johnson, Todd, and others who discussed the history of the word. Yet most of these recognized the likeness of chouse to the Turkish word, which Henshaw even proposed as the etymon, on the ground that the Turkish chiaus ‘is little better than a fool.’ Gifford’s note must therefore be taken with reserve.]
1632. Lithgow, Trav., 138. Accompanied with … Bashawes, Chowses and Hagars. Ibid., 202. The Showse stroke off his head.
1639. Ford, Ladies Triall, II. i. 256. D 3 b. Gulls or Mogulls, Tag, rag, or other, Hoger-Mogen, vanden, Skip-Iacks, or Chouses.
† 2. A cheat, a swindler.
(This is probably the meaning in Ben Jonson; it is certainly so in quot. 1658: possibly the vb. arose out of this sense, and sense 3 in turn out of the vb.)
[1610. B. Jonson, Alch., I. ii. 25. D. What doe you thinke of mee, That I am a Chiause? F. What’s that? D. The Turk was here—As one would say, doe you think I am a Turke? Ibid., 29. Come, noble Doctor, pray thee lets prevaile. This is the gentleman, and he is no chiause. Ibid., 34. One that will thank you richly, and h’ is no chiause.]
1658. trans. Bergerac’s Satyr. Char., xxv. 91. Have I not told our Nephew, that you were not a Chouse, since you go roundly to worke? [Fr. que vous n’estiez point fourbe.]
† 3. One easily cheated, a dupe, gull, tool. Obs.
1649. Marq. Newcastle, The Variety, Dramatis Personæ.… Simpleton, a Country Chiause.
1671. Skinner, Etymolog., A Chowse, quod stultum notat.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. III. 531. Sillier than a sottish Chews, Who when a Thief has Rob’d his house, Applies himself to Cunning men, To help him to his Goods again. Ibid. (a. 1680), Rem., II. 279. [A cheat] can do no feats without the co-operating assistance of the Chowse whose Credulity commonly meets the Imposter half-way.
1698. Def. Dram. Poetry, 81–2. At no less Price than his Ruin … he buys the knowledge of finding himself a Chouse.
1755. Johnson, A chouse, a bubble: a tool: a man fit to be cheated.
4. slang. [f. the vb.] A trick, swindle, sham, ‘sell.’
1708. Kersey, Chowse, a Cheat, Trick, or Sham.
1755. Johnson, Chouse, a trick or sham.
1888. Mrs. Parr, in Longm. Mag., April, 639. I say, what a chouse for Adda!
