or chizzle, chuzzle, verb (common).—To cheat. [Possibly an extension of the orthodox meaning of the verb in the sense of ‘to cut, shave, or pare with a chisel to an excessive degree.’ Jamieson (1808) gives CHISEL as to cheat, or act deceitfully. Current during the first half of the present century, it seems first to have appeared in literature about 1840. Cf., GOUGE, SHAVE, SKIN, and other words of a kindred type.] For synonyms, see STICK.
1844. Illustrated London News, 25 May. ‘The Derby.’ They have CHISELED the peaman and no mistake about that.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. III., p. 78. When we got home at night we shared 2s. a piece. There was five of us altogether; but I think they CHISSELLED me.
1858. Savannah Republican, 17 May. When the books were overhauled by the Committee, it was found that … the stockholders would be CHISELLED out of a pretty considerable sum.
1865. The Saturday Review, April. Mr. Hotten has given the supposed classical originals of ‘Dickey’ and of ‘Skedaddle.’ He might have traced the slang verb TO CHISEL to the Latin deascio and deruncino.
1865. G. A. SALA, A Trip to Barbary, ch. xx. To ‘carrotter’ any one, say an uncle or a creditor, is to ‘CHIZZLE’ or ‘chouse’ or ‘do’ him out of his property amidst assurances of high-flown benevolence and exalted integrity.
TO GO FULL CHISEL, phr. (American).—To go at full speed or ‘full drive’; to show intense earnestness; to use great force; to go off brilliantly.
1835. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker (1862), 95. The long shanks of a bittern … a drivin’ away like mad, FULL CHISEL arter a frog.
1878. H. B. STOWE, Poganuc People, ix., 76. Then he’d turn and run up the narrow way, FULL CHISEL. [M.]
