chivvy

ˈt͡ʃɪvi

3 definitions

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#1·8h ago

To coerce or hurry along, as by persistent request.

Some customers could now be relied upon to send in their orders regularly and, apart from having to chivy those who had fallen behind with their payments, this allowed travellers to concentrate their energies on securing new customers an…

Origin: From chivy, to chase; to race, scamper, from chivy, a chase, hunt, pursuit, probably from the title of The Ballad of Chevy Chase, first published in The Complaynt of Scotland (1549); the ballad is about a hunt taking place on a hunted]] in the Cheviot Hills between Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, and is thought to allude to the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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#2·8h ago

To subject to harassment or verbal abuse.

He headed for home, walking a little faster now, as if chivied along by some old cold wind that didn't quite reach the sunlit world.

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#3·8h ago

To sneak up on or rapidly approach.

[H]e would chivvy us into position, prodding us gently but forcefully with his stick.

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