recheat

English

Etymology

Probably from Anglo-Norman; compare Old French racheter (“rally”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈt͡ʃiːt/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

recheat (plural recheats)

1. (archaic) A series of notes blown on a horn as a signal in hunting to call back the hounds when they have lost track of the game.
   • [1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], signature [A4], verso:

     [B]ut that I vvill haue a rechate vvinded in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an inuiſible baldricke, all vvomen ſhall pardon mee: becauſe I vvill not doe them the vvrong to miſtruſt any, I vvill doe my ſelfe the right to truſt none: […]

     Used as a metonym to refer to the horn used to make hunting calls.]

   • 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:

     Prior, that last flourish on the recheat hath added fifty crowns to thy ransom, for corrupting the true old manly blasts of venerie.

Verb

recheat (third-person singular simple present recheats, present participle recheating, simple past and past participle recheated)

1. (obsolete) To blow the recheat.
   • 1612, Michael Drayton, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] H[umphrey] L[ownes] for Mathew Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, published 1613, →OCLC, page 216:

     Rechating with his horne, which then the Hunter cheeres,
     Whilst still the lustie Stag his high-palm’d head up-beares,

Usage notes

• According to the Poly-Olbion project[1], Drayton's is the last recorded use as a verb.

Anagrams

• cheater, hectare, rechate, reteach, teacher