Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHOSE, n. [Fr. chose; Sp. cosa, suit, cause, thing; It. cosa; Port. cousa; L. causa. See Cause. The primary sense is, action, urging, prosecution. See Thing and Cause.]

In law, property in action; a right to possession; or that which may be demanded and recovered by suit or action at law. Thus, money due on a bond or note is a chose in action; a recompense for damage done is a chose in action; the former proceeding from an express, the latter from an implied contract. A contract executed is a chose in possession; a contract executory conveys only a chose in action. A chose local is annexed to a place, as a mill or the like; a chose transitory is a thing which is movable. – Blackstone. Encyc.