Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also chevy) to tease, to mock, to make fun of.

1819		P. Egan Key to the Picture of the Fancy going to a Fight 18: The Toddlers are chevying him [i.e. a dandy on horseback] in prime twig.
1824		Pierce Egan’s Life in London 26 Sept. 4/3: The chevying was now louder than the double orchestra at the E. O. H.
1879		‘’Arry on the River’ Punch 9 Aug. 57/1: ’Ow we chivvied the couples a-spoonin’.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 5/2: Good news from the Soudan. Our boys are not to be chivvied during the Summer by the Arabs.
1886		Eve. News (Sydney) 22 May 3/6: The free-thinker coves were not there, or else we could have some fun chevying them. Anyhow [...] after tea we chiaked the Salvation ‘Army’ again.
1891		Chevalier & Crook [perf. Albert Chevalier] ‘The Coster’s Serenade’ 🎵 I’m getting chivied by my pals ’cos why? / Nightly I warbles ’ere for your reply.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 5 Aug. 4/6: Even the ragged news-boys chivy me. There go Duff and Dumpling. What price cheap Pastry?’.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 5 May 14/4: My fox-terrier incessantly chivvies the cat, except when puss has maternal duties to perform.
1910		Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 92: Do not let us try to wrap the fact up in pleasant words. We were being chivvied.
1944		P. Kendall Dict. Service Sl. n.p.: chivvy . . . back talk, being sassy.
1973		T. Lewis Billy Rags [ebook] ‘Oh, that’s lovely, Wally,’ I chivvied. ‘And we’ll all end up with another five [i.e. years in prison] apiece’.
2019		P. Baker Fabulosa 290/2: chivvy to persecute.

2. to scold, to tell off.

1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 9/2: He was Brisket, the head-waiter. All middle-aged men – men who remember the ‘Tom and Jerry’ and ‘coal-hole’ periods should go to the Opera House if only to see him – to see him ‘chivvy’ the other flunkeys and bite the half-sov. Tubbs gives him.
1898		Kipling ‘Stalky’ Complete Stalky & Co. (1987) 11: Old Vidley chivvied De Vitré twice last week for ridin’ his ponies on the Burrows.
1908		K. Grahame Wind in the Willows (1995) 268: There was the smashing in of windows and crashing in of door, / There was chivvying of weasels that fainted on the floor.
1917		A.S.G. Lee letter 25 May No Parachute (1968) 27: The chaps on dawn patrol were chivvied off to bed by their flight commander.
1935		(con. 1920s) McArthur & Long No Mean City 290: She often had to chivvy Mary Allen, her lodger help, out of bed in the morning.
1938		F. Anthony ‘Gus Tomlins’ Me and Gus (1977) 103: Every dog in the whole fourteen mile stretch came out on to the road and chivvied me past the farm he belonged to.
1942		Dly Teleg. (Sydney) 27 July 4/5: ‘Don't chivvy me,’ said the corporal. ‘I’ve only had a bit of plonk’.
1956		‘Charles Raven’ Und. Nights 42: He chivvied him, with total and utter mercilessness, day in and day out.
1999		C. Logue Prince Charming 55: Chivvied by the aged – and recognised – crone, my girl slipped out of my arms, on to the bus.