Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Scot. Und.) a seal.

1821		D. Haggart Autobiog. 20: We observed a conish cove, who sported an elegant dross-scout, drag, and chats.
1859, 1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1871–82		B.M. Carew Life and Adventures.

2. a criminal ‘job’ or undertaking.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 200/2: from ca. 1870.

3. a house, incl. one picked for burglary.

1879		‘Autobiog. of a Thief’ in Macmillan’s Mag. (London) XL 501: I had not been in Sutton very long before I piped a slavey (servant) come out of a chat (house).
1887		‘Dagonet’ ‘A Plank Bed Ballad ’ in Referee 12 Feb. n.p.: If I pipe a good chat, why, I touch for the wedge, / But I’m not a ‘particular’ robber.
1899		Newcastle Courant 18 Nov. 5/2: Once out of this noisy London [...] with a chat of our own and the money coming in reg’lar [...] I’ll be a different man.
1904		Dubbo Liberal (NSW) 30 Jan. 3/4: Our burglar has selected his ‘chat’.
1906		E. Pugh Spoilers 158: The chat we’re on is called The Observatory, an’ it’s got a sort o’ tower stickin’ out o’ the roof.
1923		J.C. Goodwin ‘Criminal Sl.’ in Sidelights on Criminal Matters 165: [H]he had brought some pudding for the dog at a chat near the rattler house, which was kept by an old fence who was well anointed.
1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 68: ‘Have you got a chat of your own?’ ‘I got a place of my own, but the old steamer’s pestering.’.
1950		P. Hoskins No Hiding Place! 190/1: Chat. House.