Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) false praise, empty flattery, esp. when aimed at tricking or defrauding its object [note 17C–18C chime, a mere empty ‘jingle’ of words].

1994

(con. 19C) C. Major Juba to Jive.

2. (US black) one hour.

1944		Cab Calloway New Hepsters Dict. in Calloway (1976) 253: chime (n.): hour. Ex., ‘I got in at six chimes’.
1944		‘Jiver’s Bible’ in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.
1946		Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 164: We could at least [...] forget our misery for a couple of chimes.
1960, 1975		Wentworth & Flexner DAS.