Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHOUSE, v.t. [This word may be from the root of cozen, Arm. couçzein, or concheza. Ar. خَاسَ gausa, to deceive or defraud; Eth. ሐሰወ chasawa, to lie, deceive or cheat.]

To cheat, trick, defraud; followed by of, in Hudibras; but in America, by out of; as, to chouse one out of his money. [It is now vulgar.] – Dryden. Swift.