chore

Etymology 1

From earlier char, from Middle English charr, charre, cherre (“odd job, turn, occasion, business”), from Old English ċerr, ċierr (“a turn”), from ċierran (“to turn”), from Proto-Germanic *karzijaną (“to turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *gers- (“to bend, turn”). Cognate with Dutch keer (“time; turn; occasion”), German Kehre (“a turn; bend; wind; back-flip; u-turn”). Also related to Saterland Frisian kiere, käire (“to turn”), Old Saxon kērian, Old High German chēran (“to turn”) (German kehren (“to turn”), Dutch keren (“to turn”)). See also char.

noun

1. A task, especially a difficult, unpleasant, or routine one.
   Washing dishes is a chore, but we cannot just stop eating.
   The children were made to do their daily chores before being allowed to play games.
   I used to enjoy being self-employed, but it's become a bit of a chore recently.
   Shorty after his nomination as Chief Justice was announced, it came to light that while on the Court, Fortas, a close friend of Johnson's, had performed a number of personal and political chores for him. This was a clear violation of the principle of separation of powers. 1978, Richard Nixon, RN: the Memoirs of Richard Nixon, Grosset & Dunlap, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 418

verb

1. (US, dated) To do chores.

Etymology 2

Possibly derived from Romani ćor (“thief”), see also Geordie word chor.

verb

1. (Scotland, dialect) To steal.

Etymology 3

noun

1. (obsolete) A choir or chorus.