▪ I. chafer1, chaffer
(ˈtʃeɪfə(r), ˈtʃæfə(r))
Forms: 1 ceafor, cefer, 5 cheaffer, chauer, 7– chafer, chaffer.
[OE. cefer corresponds to OS. (MDu. and mod.Du.) kever, OHG. chevar (chevaro), MHG. kever, kefere, Ger. käfer beetle:—OTeut. type kefro-z; OE. ceafor, if from earlier *cafr, points to OTeut. ablaut-variant *kafroz, -uz. Possible derivations are from a stem kaf- to gnaw (see chavel), or from that of chaff, an animal enclosed in scales or husks. Mod. German use applies the name to all Coleoptera, from the ladybird to the stag-beetle.]
A name given to certain beetles, now chiefly the cock-chafer and rose-chafer; used alone, it generally means the former of these. Apparently, originally applied to species destructive to plants.
(α) form chafer.
| c 1000 ælfric Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 121 Bruchus, ceafor. c 1000 Ags. Ps. civ. 30 [cv. 34] Sona cwoman gangan gærshoppan, and grame ceaferas [bruchus]. c 1400 Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) II. 211 (MS. α) Of hors i-roted comeþ cheaffers [1387 harnettes, Caxton chauers]. 1609 C. Butler Fem. Mon. (1634) 59 These [dors]..do openly engender with their Females, as the chafers do. 1816 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. (1828) II. xxi. 254 Take one of the common chafers or dung-beetles into your hand. |
(β) form chaffer.
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 314 The great appearances of Chaffers, or other Insects. 1770–4 A. Hunter Georg. Ess. (1803) III. 99 Cock-Chaffer..called..the Chaffer..the Jeffry-Cock, the May-bug and (in Norfolk) the Dor. 1829 E. Jesse Jrnl. Nat. 324 Every sparrow that flies by has a chaffer in its mouth. |
▪ II. chafer2 ? Obs.
(ˈtʃeɪfə(r))
Forms: 4–5 chaufour(e, 5 chafor, -ur, -ir, -our(e, -owre, chaufur, -yr, chawfer, chaffire, -our, chalfer, 5–7 chaufer, chaffer, 6 chaver, chauffer, 6– chafer.
[f. chafe v. + -er1; or (in sense 1) a. F. chauffoir:—late L. type *calefātōrium for calefactōrium. See chauffer.]
† 1. A vessel for heating something: a. A vessel for heating water, a saucepan. b. A portable grate, a chafing-dish. Obs.
(α) form chauf(f)our, -er.
| 1395 E.E. Wills (1882) 5 A chaufour of siluer. 1427 Mem. Rip. (1882) I. 329, j chawfer. 1434 E.E. Wills (1882) 101 A chaufur of bras. 1558 Wills & Inv. N.C. (1835) II. 162, ij fyer chauffers. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 215 Faire chaufers and goodly pots. |
(β) form chafour, -er.
| 1420 E.E. Wills (1882) 46 Þe best of yren broches, & a chafur. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 68 Chafowre to make whote a thynge as watur, calefactorium. 1488 Inv. Jewels Jas. III in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) II. 392 A chalfer, of silver ouregilt. c 1590 Marlowe Faust v. (stage direction) Re-enter Mephistophilis with a chafer of coals. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 398/1 Barbers..carry about with them..a small Chafer. 1721–33 Strype Eccl. Mem. II. i. i. i. 2 Basin and chavers of silver and gilt..to wash the Prince. 1825 Hone Every-day Bk. I. 1257 These [barbers'] chafers are no longer made in London. |
(γ) form chaffer.
| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture in Babees Bk. (1868) 161 Lay þem vppon youre galantyne stondynge on a chaffire hoote. 1505 Will of Horwood (Somerset Ho.) A large chaffer of laton. 1629 Inv. Hatfield Priory in Trans. Essex Archæol. Soc. New Ser. III. ii. 160, j great brasse chaffer to heat water in. |
† 2. = chafe-wax. Obs.
| 1577 Holinshed Chron. III. 920/2 A clearke of the hamper; and a chafer of the wax. 1647 Haward Crown Rev. 2 Chafer of Wax. Fee.—7l. 6s. 7d. 1805 Lett. Patent in Law Times LXXXI. 442/2 The office or place of chaffer of the wax. |
3. One who chafes or fumes. ? Obs.
| 1598 Florio, Bronfatore..a snorter, a huff snuff, a chafer. 1604 T. Wright Passions iv. ii. §1. 127 Chafers in play are couetous, great gamesters are foolish. |
▪ III. chafer, v.
[? mispr. for chafe.]
| a 1625 Fletcher & Mass. Elder Bro. iv. ii. (1679) 117 M. Do they chafer roundly? A. As they were rubb'd with Soap, Sir..M. Long may they chafe, and long may we laugh at 'em. |
▪ IV. chafer
obs. form of chaffer.