chivvy

chiv·vy or chiv·y  (chv)

v. chiv·vied or chiv·ied, chiv·vy·ing or chiv·y·ing, chiv·vies or chiv·ies

v.tr.

1. To vex or harass with petty attacks: political opponents who chivvied the senator.

2. To maneuver or secure gradually: "had spent two weeks chivvying this division toward combat readiness" (Tom Clancy).

v.intr.

To scurry.

n. pl. chiv·vies or chiv·ies

1. A hunt or chase.

2. A hunting cry.

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[Variant of chevy, a hunt, hunting cry, from Chevy Chase, title of a ballad about a border skirmish, from Cheviot Chase, a large unenclosed hunting tract in the Cheviot Hills.]

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chivvy

Verb

[-vies, -vying, -vied] Brit to harass or nag [probably from Chevy Chase, a Scottish ballad]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

chivvy - annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers" beset, chevvy, chevy, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, molest, plague, provoke needle, goad - goad or provoke,as by constant criticism; "He needled her with his sarcastic remarks" annoy, devil, gravel, irritate, nark, rile, vex, nettle, rag, bother, chafe, get at, get to - cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves" bedevil, dun, rag, torment, frustrate, crucify - treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering teacher" haze - harass by imposing humiliating or painful tasks, as in military institutions