Middle English: from Old French chacier (verb), chace (noun), based on Latin captare 'continue to take', from capere 'take'late Middle English: apparently from earlier enchase, from Old French enchasserlate 16th cent.: from French châsse, from Latin capsa 'box' (see case)early 17th cent.: from French chas 'enclosed space', from Provençal cas, caus, from medieval Latin capsum 'thorax or nave of a church'
