Also 6 chetory, 8–9 Sc. cheatry, cheatrie. [f. CHEAT v. or CHEATER: see -ERY.] The practice of cheating; swindling, trickery.
1532. Dice-Play, D vij. Now I vnderstand by what chetory it was woon.
1678–1712. Fountainhall, Dec. Sessions, I. 359 (Jam.). Their cheatry, falshood, and unfaithfulness to their trust.
1823. Galt, Entail, III. xxi. 201. Ye Goliah of cheatrie.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. iii. 176. If thou only cheat five times a-day, and give a tenth of thy cheatery to the poor.
1867. Stubbs, Gesta Regis Hen. II., II. Pref. Much room for exaction, cheatery, and litigation.
attrib. 1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxv. Warrants and poindings and apprizings, and a’ that cheatry craft.
1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1843), 150.
| That Maids are witches—we the fools | |
| They cast their cheatrie glamour on. |
