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Chouse

2 stages from Ottoman Turkish to English.

Today it means to cheat or swindle

Where does the word "chouse" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish çavuş, adopted directly into English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
çavuş
Ottoman Turkish · 1500s
"messenger, envoy"
a palace messenger or envoy; in the modern Turkish army it means sergeant
2
Stage 2 of 2
chouse
English · 1610s
"to cheat"
first 'chiaus', a Turkish envoy; in 1609 an interpreter sent to London by Sir Robert Shirley swindled merchants of £4,000, and Jonson's 'The Alchemist' (1610) jokes about it
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Chouse’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: çavuş meant “messenger, envoy.” A palace messenger or envoy; in the modern Turkish army it means sergeant. It reached English by 1610s as chouse. First 'chiaus', a Turkish envoy; in 1609 an interpreter sent to London by Sir Robert Shirley swindled merchants of £4,000, and Jonson's 'The Alchemist' (1610) jokes about it. Today, chouse means to cheat or swindle.