‖ chal
The Gipsy word for ‘person, man, fellow’: sometimes (with the corresponding feminine chai) used in speaking of gipsies, by way of displaying familiarity with them and their language.
| 1865 Dubl. Univ. Mag. II. 25 Romany chals with their nomad tents upon wheels. 1871 M. Collins Mrq. & Merch. I. i. 47 He..delighted the chals with tobacco. 1876 G. J. Whyte-Melville Katerfelto xii. 134 The Romany chal marries with the Romany chi. |