Careful Words

chin (n.)

chin (v.)

An honest man, close-button'd to the chin,

Broadcloth without, and a warm heart within.

William Cowper (1731-1800): Epistle to Joseph Hill.

Cupid and my Campaspe play'd

At cards for kisses: Cupid paid.

He stakes his quiver, bow, and arrows,

His mother's doves, and team of sparrows:

Loses them too. Then down he throws

The coral of his lip, the rose

Growing on's cheek (but none knows how);

With these, the crystal of his brow,

And then the dimple on his chin:

All these did my Campaspe win.

At last he set her both his eyes:

She won, and Cupid blind did rise.

O Love! has she done this to thee?

What shall, alas! become of me?

John Lyly (Circa 1553-1601): Cupid and Campaspe. Act iii. Sc. 5.

Fresh as a bridegroom; and his chin new reap'd

Showed like a stubble-land at harvest-home;

He was perfumed like a milliner,

And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held

A pouncet-box, which ever and anon

He gave his nose and took 't away again.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry IV. Part I. Act i. Sc. 3.

Her lips were red, and one was thin;

Compared with that was next her chin,—

Some bee had stung it newly.

Sir John Suckling (1609-1641): Ballad upon a Wedding.