Forms: 6 on char, ? a char. [f. A (prep.)1 + CHAR, OE. cyrr, cerr a turn. The 18th c. at jar was on false analogy; see next.] Of a door or window: On the turn, slightly opened.

1

[c. 1400.  Beryn, 355. The doer shall stond char vp; put it from yew sofft.]

2

a. 1513.  Douglas, King Hart (1874), I. 98. The dure on char it stude. Ibid. (1513), Æneis, VII. Prol. 129. Ane schot wyndo vnschet a lytill on char.

3

1708.  Swift, Abol. Chr., Wks. 1755, II. I. 90. Opening a few wickets, and leaving them at jar.

4

1786.  Beckford, Vathek (1868), 92. With a large door in it standing ajar.

5

1815.  Scott, Ld. of Isles, V. iii. But the dim lattice is ajar.

6