Chapter Children in the Wood to Chrisom Child of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Cholmondeley [Chum-ly], of Vale Royal, a friend of sir Geoffrey Peveril.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Cholmondeley, in Ainsworth’s Tower of London (1843), is the squire of lord Guildford Dudley.

Cholula (Pyramid of), the great Mexican pyramid, west of Puebla, erected in the reign of Montezuma emperor of Mexico (1466–1520). Its base is 1423 feet each side, or double that of the largest Egyptian pyramid, but its height does not exceed 164 feet.

Choppard (Pierre), one of the gang of thieves, called “The Ugly Mug.” When asked a disagreeable question, he always answered, “I’ll ask my wife, my memory’s so slippery.”—Stirling: The Courier of Lyons (1852).

Choruses. The following are druidical, and of course Keltic in origin:—“Down, down, derry down!” (for dun ! dun ! daragon, dun !), that is, “To the hill ! to the hill ! to the oak, to the hill !” “Fal, lal, la !” (for fallà là), that is, “The circle of day !” The day or sun has completed its circle. “Fal, lero, loo !” (for fallà lear lu [aidh]]), that is, “The circle of the sun praise!” “Hey, nonnie, nonnie !” that is, “Hail to the noon !” “High trolollie, lollie lol” (for ai [or aibhe], trah là, “Hail, early day !” trahla, “early day,” là lee [or là lo], “bright day !”). “Lilli burlero” (for Li, li beur, Lear-a ! buille na là), that is, “Light, light on the sea, beyond the promontory ! ‘Tis the stroke of day !”—All the Year Round, 316–320, August, 1873.

Chrestien de Troyes. The chevalier au Lion, chevalier de l’Epée, was the Lancelot du Lac of mediæval French romance (twelfth century).

Chriemhilda. (See under K.)

Chrisom Child (A), a child that dies within a month of its birth. So called because it is buried in the white cloth anointed with chrism (oil and balm), worn at its baptism.

He’s in Arthur’s [Abraham’s] bosom, if ever man went to Arthur’s bosom. ’A made a finer end, and went away, an it had been any christom [chrisom] child. ’A parted just…at turning o’ the tide. (Quickly’s description of the death of Falstaff.)—Shakespeare: Henry V. act ii. sc. 3 (1599).

Why, Mike’s a child to him…a chrism child.
   —Ingelow: Brothers and a Sermon.