charlatanism 
charlatanism (shar'la-tan-izm), . [< F. cliar- 
l<it((iiixmc Sp. Pg. 'cltarlatanismo = It. ciar- 
lnt/iiiini<>: see charlatan and -ism.'] The con- 
duct or practices of a charlatan; quackery; 
charlatanry. 
Not the least of the benefits likely to follow the better 
diffusion of physiological and sanitary information will 
be the protection of the community from the number- 
less impostures of charlatanism. 
Huxley and Youmans, Physiol., 373. 
charlatanry (shar'la-tan-ri), . [X F. charla- 
tame = Sp. charlaiancria = Pg. charlataneria 
= It. ciarlatancria : see charlatan and -n/.] The 
practices of a charlatan; fraudulent or impu- 
dent pretension to knowledge or skill ; quack- 
ery. Formerly written charlatanrri/. 
Henley was a charlatan and a knave ; but in all his 
charlatanerie and his knavery he indulged the reveries of 
genius. I. 1)' Israeli, Calam. of Authors, p. 100. 
To expose pretentious charlatanry is sometimes the un- 
pleasant duty of the reviewer. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 873. 
Charles's law. See law. 
Charles's Wain. See wain. 
charlett, n. [ME. , also charlyt ; origin obscure.] 
A sort of omelet or custard. According to one 
recipe, it was made of milk colored with saffron, mingled 
with minced boiled pork and beaten eggs, boiled, stirred 
and mixed with ale. 
Charleyt (char'li), . A slang name for a watch- 
man under the old patrol system in England : 
given, it is said, because Charles I. in 1640 ex- 
tended and improved the patrol system of Lon- 
don. 
The physicians being called in, as some do call in the 
Charleys to quell internal riot when all the mischief is 
done, they prescribed for him air. 
Jon Bee, Ess. on Samuel Foote, p. clxi. 
Bludyer, a brave and athletic man, would often give a 
loose to his spirits of an evening, and mill a Charley or 
two, as the phrase then was. 
Thackeray, Sketches in London (Friendship). 
charlin (char'lin), n. [Origin unknown.] A 
dowel. 
charlock (ehiir'lok), n. [E. dial, carlock, car- 
lick, kerlock, kellock, kedlock, kilk; < ME. carlok, 
< AS. cerlic (twice), charlock.] A common name 
of the wild mustard, Brasttica Sinapistrum, a com- 
mon pest in grain-fields. Also written carlick. 
In either hand he bore 
What dazzled all, and shone far-off as shines 
A field of charlock in the sudden sun 
Between two showers, a cloth of palest gold. 
Tennyson, Garcth and Lynette. 
Jointed or white charlock, Raphamis RaphanMrum. 
charlotte (shar'lot), n. [F., a marmalade of 
apples covered with pieces of toasted bread ; 
a particular use of the proper name Charlotte, 
fern, of Chariot, dim. of Charles : see carl."] A 
name given to certain rich and delicate sweet 
dishes Apple Charlotte, apple custard served in a 
form of sponge-cake. Charlotte russe (French russe, 
Russian), whipped cream similarly arranged. 
charly-mufti (char'li-muf'ti), n. [A humor- 
ous name; appar. < Charity, Charlie, dim. of 
Charles, a proper name (see carl), + mufti, 
civilian dress.] A name of the whitethroat, 
Sylvia cinerea. Macaillivray. [Eng.] 
charm 1 (charm), n. [< ME. charme, < OP 1 , charme, 
F. charme, a charm, enchantment, < L. carmen, 
a song, poem, charm, OL. Gasmen, a song, akin 
to camena, OL. casmena, a muse, Goth, hazjan 
= AS. herian, praise, Skt. gang, praise.] If. A 
melody; a song. 
Favourable times did us afford 
Free libertie to chaunt our charms at will. 
Spenser, Tears of the Muses, 1. 244. 
2. Anything believed to possess gome occult 
or supernatural power, such as an amulet, a 
spell, or some mystic observance or act. 
She works by charms, by spells, by the figure. 
Shak., M. W. of W., iv. 2. 
Hast thou a charm to stay the morning star 
In his steep course ? 
Coleridge, Hymn in the Vale of Chamouni. 
And still o'er many a neighboring door 
She saw the horseshoe's curved charm. 
Whittier, Witch's Daughter. 
Hence 3. A trinket, such as a locket, seal, 
etc., worn especially on a watch-guard. 4. 
An irresistible power to please and attract, or 
something which possesses this power; fasci- 
nation; allurement; attraction. 
All the charms of love. Shak., A. and C., ii. 1. 
If a fair skin, fine eyes, teeth of ivory, with a lovely 
bloom, and a delicate shape if these, with a heavenly 
voice, and a world of grace, are not charms, I know not 
what you call beautiful. Sheridan, The Duenna, ii. 3. 
Charm is the glory which makes 
Song of the poet divine ; 
Love is the fountain of charm ! 
M. Arnold, Heine's Grave. 
= Syn. 2. Spell, enchantment, witchery, magic. 
932 
charm 1 (charm), r. [< late ME. charmcn, < F. 
charmer, < LL. carminare, enchant, L. make 
verses; from the noun.] I. trans. 1. To sub- 
due, control, or bind, as if by incantation or 
magical influence ; soothe, allay, or appease. 
No witchcraft charm thee ! 
Shak., Cymbeline, iv. 2 (song). 
Music the fiercest grief can charm. 
Pope, St. Cecilia's Day, 1. 118. 
2. To fortify or make invulnerable with charms. 
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield 
To one of woman hprn. Shak., Macbeth, v. 7. 
3. To give exquisite pleasure to ; fascinate ; en- 
chant. 
They, on their mirth and dance 
Intent, with jocund music charm his ear. 
Milton, P. L., i. 787. 
If the first opening page so charms the sight, 
Think how the unfolded volume will delight ! 
Dryden, Britannia Kediviva, 1. 108. 
4. To affect by or as if by magic or supernat- 
ural influences : as, to charm a serpent out of 
his hole or into a stupor ; to charm away one's 
grief; to charm the wind into silence. 5f. To 
play upon ; produce musical sounds from. 
Charming his oaten pipe unto his peres. 
Spenser, Colin Clout, 1. 5. 
Here we our slender pypes may safely charme. 
Spenser, Shep. Cal., October. 
=Syn. 1, 2, and 3. Fascinate, etc. (see enchant), delight, 
transport, bewitch, ravish, enrapture, captivate. 
II. intrans. 1. To produce the effect of a 
charm ; work with magic power ; act as a 
charm or spell. 
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm. 
Shak., Hamlet, i. 1. 
2. To give delight; be highly pleasing: as, a 
melody that could charm more than any other. 
3f. To give forth musical sounds. 
The deaf adder that stoppeth her ear ; which will not 
hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so 
wisely. Ps. Iviii. 4, 5. 
And all the while harmonious airs were heard, 
Of chiming strings or charming pipes. 
Milton, P. R., ii. 883. 
charm 2 (charm), n. [Also chirm and churni 
(commonly chirm, q. v.), < ME. chirme, < AS. 
derm, cirm, cyrm, noise, clamor, < cirman, cyr- 
man, cry out, shout, clamor, = MD. kermen, 
karmen, cry out, lament. The form charm for 
the murmuring or clamoring of birds is still in 
dial, use, but in literary use is appar. merged 
in charm 1 , with ref. to the orig. sense 'a song': 
seecftarw 1 .] 1. The confused low murmuring 
of a flock of birds ; chirm. 
With charm of earliest birds. MUton, P. L., iv. 642. 
2f. In hawking, a company: said of gold- 
finches. 
A charm of goldfinches. 
Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 97. 
channel (kar'mel), n. [Heb.] A garden, an 
orchard, or a park. [The word is found only 
in the Douay version of Isa. xxix. 17.] 
charmer (char'mer), n. [< ME. charmer; < 
charml + -er 1 .] 1. One who charms, or has 
power to charm, (a) One who uses or has the power 
of enchantment, or some similar power. 
There shall not be found among you ... an enchanter, 
or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar 
spirits. Deut. xviii. 10, 11. 
(6) One who delights and attracts the affections. 
Oh, you heavenly charmers, 
What things you make of us ! 
Fletcher (and another), Two Noble Kinsmen, v. 4. 
How happy could I be with either, 
Were t'other dear charmer away. 
Gay, Beggar's Opera, ii. 2. 
2f. One who plays upon a musical instrument ; 
a musician. 
Charmeresst(char'mer-es),N. [ME.charmeresse; 
< charmer + -ess.'} An enchantress. [Bare.] 
Phitonisses [Pythonesses], charmeresses, 
Olde wyches, sorceresses. 
Chaucer, House of Fame, 1. 1261. 
charmful (charm'ful), a. [< cAam 1 + -ful, 1.] 
Abounding with charms or melodies ; charm- 
ing ; melodious. [Bare.] 
And with him bid his charmful lyre to bring. 
Cowley, Davideis, i. 
charming (char'ming), p. a. [Ppr. of charm 1 , v."] 
Having the effect of a charm; fascinating; 
enchanting; hence, pleasing in the highest de- 
gree; delightful. 
To forgive our enemies is a charming way of revenge. 
Sir T. Browne, Christ. Mor., iii. Ii 
Harmony divine 
So smoothes her charming tones, that God's own ear 
Listens delighted. Milton, P. L., v. 626. 
charry 
He saw her rtiarminn, but he saw not half 
The charms her downcast modesty conceal'd. 
Thomson, Autumn, 1. 229. 
= Syn. Enchanting, bewitching, captivating, delightful, 
lovely. 
charmingly (ehar'ming-li), adv. In a charm- 
ing manner; delightfully. 
She smiled very charmingly, and discovered as fine a set 
of teeth as ever eye beheld. Addison. 
Charmingness (char'ming-nes), n. [< charm- 
ing + -nens.~] The state or quality of being 
charming ; the power to please, 
charmless (charm'les), a. [< charm 1 + -less.'] 
Destitute of charms ; unattractive. [Bare.] 
Saw my mistress, . . . who is grown a little charmless. 
Surift, To Stella, Sept. 10, 1710. 
charn (charn), n. A dialectal form of churn. 
Grose. [North. Eng.] 
charn-curdle (charn'ker"dl), n. A churn-staff . 
Grose. [North. Eng.] 
charnecot, charnicot (char'nf-ko, -ni-ko), n. 
[Prob. from Charneco, a village near Lisbon.] 
A kind of sweet Portuguese wine. 
Here's a cup of Charneco. Shak., 2 Hen. VI., ii. :i. 
Where no old Charnico is, nor no am'hoves. 
Fletcher, Wit without Money, ii. 
charnel (char'nel), n. and a. [< ME. charnelle, 
< OF. charnel, camel, < ML. carnale, a charnel. 
neut. of carnalis, > OF. carnel, charnel, adj., of 
flesh (see carnal) (OF. and F. also charmer, < 
ML. carnarium,j>, charnel), < L. caro (earn-), 
flesh. Cf. AS. flieschits, lit. 'flesh-house,' a char- 
nel.] I. n. A common repository for dead 
bodies; a place for the indiscriminate or close 
deposit of the remains, and especially of the 
bones, of the dead; a charnel-house. [Now 
little used separately.] 
In chanwl atte chirche cherles ben yuel to knowe, 
Or a knijte fram a knaue ; there knowe this in thin herte. 
Piers Ploivman (B), vi. 60. 
Toward the Est, an 100 Pas, is the Charnelle of the Hos- 
pitalle of seynt John, where men weren wont toputte the 
Bones of dede men. Mandemlle, Travels, p. 94. 
I have made my bed 
In charnels and on coffins, where black Death 
Keeps record of the trophies won from thee. 
Shelley, Alastor. 
Where the extinguished Spartans still are free, 
In their proud charnel of Thermopylae. 
Byron, Childe Harold. 
II. a. Containing or designed to contain flesh 
or dead bodies. 
Those thick and gloomy shadows damp, 
Oft seen in charnel vaults and sepulchres. 
Milton, Comus, 1. 471. 
All stood together on the deck, 
For a charnel dungeon fitter. 
Coleridge, Ancient Mariner. 
charnel-house (char'nel-hous), n. A place, 
usually under or near a church, where the 
bones of the dead are deposited ; formerly, and 
still in parts of Brittany, a kind of portico or 
gallery, in or near a churchyard, over which 
the bones of the dead were laid after the flesh 
was consumed. 
charnicot, n. See charneco. 
char-oven (char'uv'n), n. A furnace for char- 
ring turf. 
charpie (shar'pi), n. [F., orig. pp. of OF. 
charpir, tear out, pick to pieces, = it. carpire, 
seize, < L. carpere, seize: see carpi, and cf. 
carpet.'] A form of lint made by completely 
raveling pieces of old linen or by tearing them 
into very narrow strips. 
charpoy (char'poi), n. [Eepr. Hind, chdrpdi, 
lit. four-footed, < char (< Skt. chatur = E. four) 
+ pdi; cf. Skt. pad, foot (= E. foot) ; thus 
charpoy = (L.) quadruped = (Gr.) tetrapod=(E.) 
four-foot-ed.~] In India, a pallet-bed ; the com- 
mon portable bedstead of the natives, adopted 
by Europeans. It consists of a light frame with four 
legs, the support for the mattress being provided by bands 
of webbing, or tapes, which cross from side to side of the 
frame. 
In one corner of this court, stretched on a charpoy, lay 
a young man of slight figure and small stature. 
W. H. Ruisett, Diary in India, II. 68. 
charmii (char'ke), n. [The Chilian name, of 
whicn the E. term jerked (beef) is a corruption.] 
Jerked beef ; beef cut into strips about an inch 
thick and dried by exposure to the sun. 
charrt, . See char*. 
charras, n. See churrm. 
charreH, n. See char*. 
charre 2 t, . See char&. 
charriere (sha-ri-ar'), n. [F., from a proper 
name Charriere.'] In anat., a small scalpel 
employed for fine dissection. 
Charry (chiir'i), fl. [<char1 + -yl.] Pertaining 
to charcoal ; like charcoal, or partaking of its 
qualities. 
