chicane Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a bridge hand that is void of trumps
  2. noun a movable barrier used in motor racing; sometimes placed before a dangerous corner to reduce speed as cars pass in single file
  3. noun the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)
    chicanery; trickery; wile; shenanigan; guile.
  4. verb defeat someone through trickery or deceit
    shaft; chouse; screw; cheat; jockey.
  5. verb raise trivial objections
    cavil; carp.

WordNet

Chi*cane" noun
Etymology
F., prob. earlier meaning a dispute, orig. in the game of mall (F. mail), fr. LGr. the game of mall, fr Pers chaugan club or bat; or possibly ultimated fr. L. ciccus a trible.
Definitions
  1. The use of artful subterfuge, designed to draw away attention from the merits of a case or question; -- specifically applied to legal proceedings; trickery; chicanery; caviling; sophistry. Prior.
    To shuffle from them by chicane. Burke.
    To cut short this, I propound it fairly to your own canscience. Berkeley.
Chi*cane" intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. chicaner. See Chicane, n.
Definitions
  1. To use shifts, cavils, or artifices. Burke.

Webster 1913