← Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Volume 2
Chapter 6
C. G. T. C. G. T.
Defn: An abbreviation for Confédération Générale du Travail (the
French syndicalist labor union).
CHA
Cha (chä), n. [Chin. ch"a.] [Also chaa, chais, tsia, etc.]
Defn: Tea; — the Chinese (Mandarin) name, used generally in early works of travel, and now for a kind of rolled tea used in Central Asia.
A pot with hot water . . . made with the powder of a certain herb called chaa, which is much esteemed. Tr. J. Van Linschoten's Voyages (1598).
CHAB
Chab, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-bellied wood pecker (Melanerpes Carolinus).
CHABASITE; CABAZITE
Chab"a*site, Cab"a*zite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occuring in glassy rhombohedral crystals, varying, in color from white to yellow or red. It is essentially a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. Called also chabasie.
CHABLIS
Cha*blis", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A white wine made near Chablis, a town in France.
CHABOUK; CHABUK
Cha*bouk", Cha*buk", n. Etym: [Hind. chabuk horsewhip.]
Defn: A long whip, such as is used in the East in the infliction of punishment. Balfour.
CHACE
Chace, n.
Defn: See 3d Chase, n., 3.
CHACE
Chace, v. t.
Defn: To pursue. See Chase v. t.
CHACHALACA Cha`cha*la"ca, n. Etym: [Native name, prob. given in imitation of its cry.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The texan guan (Ortalis vetula). [written also chiacalaca.]
CHACMA
Chac"ma, n. Etym: [Native name.]
Defn: A large species of African baboon (Cynocephalus porcarius); — called also ursine baboon.
Note: [See Illust. of Baboon.]
CHACONNE
Cha*conne", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. chacona.] (Mus.)
Defn: An old Spanish dance in moderate three-four measure, like the Passacaglia, which is slower. Both are used by classical composers as themes for variations.
CHAD
Chad, n.
Defn: See Shad. [Obs.]
CHAETETES
Chæ*te"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fossil corals, common in the lower Silurian limestones.
CHAETIFEROUS
Chæ*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing setæ.
CHAETODONT
Chæ"to*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine fish of the family Chætodontidæ. The chætodonts have broad, compressed bodies, and usually bright colors.
CHAETODONT
Chæto*dont, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chætodonts or the family Chætodontidæ.
CHAETOGNATH
Chæ"tog*nath, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chætognatha.
CHAETOGNATHA
Chæ*tog"na*tha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: An order of free-swimming marine worms, of which the genus Sagitta is the type. They have groups of curved spines on each side of the head.
CHAETOPOD
Chæ"to*pod, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Chætopoda.
— n.
Defn: One of the Chætopoda.
CHAETOPODA
Chæ*top"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very extensive order of Annelida, characterized by the presence of lateral setæ, or spines, on most or all of the segments. They are divided into two principal groups: Oligochæta, including the earthworms and allied forms, and Polychæta, including most of the marine species.
CHAETOTAXY
Chæ"to*tax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The arrangement of bristles on an insect.
CHAFE
Chafe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chafed; p pr. & vb. n. Chafing.] Etym:
[OE. chaufen to warm, OF. chaufer, F. chauffer, fr. L. calefacere,
calfacere, to make warm; calere to be warm + facere to make. See
Caldron.]
1. To ecxite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm. To rub her temples, and to chafe her skin. Spenser.
2. To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate. Her intercession chafed him. Shak.
3. To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable. Two slips of parchment which she sewed round it to prevent its being chafed. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
— To rub; fret; gall; vex; excite; inflame.
CHAFE
Chafe, v. i.
Defn: To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by
friction.
Made its great boughs chafe together. Longfellow.
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores. Shak.
2. To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes.
3. To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated. Spenser. He will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter. Shak.
CHAFE
Chafe, n.
1. Heat excited by friction.
2. Injury or wear caused by friction.
3. Vexation; irritation of mind; rage. The cardinal in a chafe sent for him to Whitehall. Camden.
CHAFER
Chaf"er, n.
1. One who chafes.
2. A vessel for heating water; — hence, a dish or pan. A chafer of water to cool the ends of the irons. Baker.
CHAFER
Chaf"er, n. Etym: [AS. ceafor; akin to D. kever, G këfer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of beetle; the cockchafer. The name is also applied to other species; as, the rose chafer.
CHAFERY
Chaf"er*y, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.] (Iron Works)
Defn: An open furnace or forge, in which blooms are heated before being wrought into bars.
CHAFEWAX; CHAFFWAX
Chafe"wax`, or Chaff"wax`, n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: Formerly a chancery officer who fitted wax for sealing writs and other documents.
CHAFEWEED
Chafe"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The cudweed (Gnaphalium), used to prevent or cure chafing.
CHAFF
Chaff, n. Etym: [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]
1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc. So take the corn and leave the chaff behind. Dryden. Old birds are not caught with caff. Old Proverb.
2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character; the refuse part of anything. The chaff and ruin of the times. Shak.
3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle. By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it. In this way chaff is very useful. Ywatt.
4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which subtend each flower in the heads of many Compositæ, as the sunflower. Gray. Chaff cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into "chaff" for the use of cattle.
CHAFF
Chaff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffing.]
Defn: To use light, idle lagnguage by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
CHAFF
Chaff, v. t.
Defn: To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz. Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him. Thackeray. A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other about their sweethearts. C. Kingsley.
CHAFFER
Chaff"er, n.
Defn: One who chaffs.
CHAFFER Chaf"fer, n. Etym: [OE. chaffare, cheapfare; AS. ceáp a bargain, price + faru a journey; hence, originally, a going to barain, to market. See Cheap, and Fare.]
Defn: Bargaining; merchandise. [Obs.] Holished.
CHAFFER
Chaf"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffering.]
Etym: [OE. chaffaren, fr. chaffare, chapfare, cheapfare, a
bargaining. See Chaffer, n.]
1. To treat or dispute about a purchase; to bargain; to haggle or higgle; to negotiate. To chaffer for preferments with his gold. Dryden.
2. To talk much and idly; to chatter. Trench.
CHAFFER
Chaf"fer, v. t.
1. To buy or sell; to trade in. He chaffered chairs in which churchmen were set. Spenser.
2. To exchange; to bandy, as words. Spenser.
CHAFFERER
Chaf"fer*er, n.
Defn: One who chaffers; a bargainer.
CHAFFERN
Chaf"fern, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.]
Defn: A vessel for heating water. [Obs.] Johnson.
CHAFFERY
Chaf"fer*y, n.
Defn: Traffic; bargaining. [Obs.] Spenser.
CHAFFINCH
Chaf"finch, n. Etym: [Cf. Chiff-chaff.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of Europe (Fringilla coelebs), having a variety of very sweet songs, and highly valued as a cage bird; — called also copper finch.
CHAFFING
Chaff"ing, n.
Defn: The use of light, frivolous language by way of fun or ridicule; raillery; banter.
CHAFFLESS
Chaff"less, a.
Defn: Without chaff.
CHAFFY
Chaff"y, a.
1. Abounding in, or resembling, chaff. Chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail. Coleridge.
2. Light or worthless as chaff. Slight and chaffy opinion. Glanvill.
3. (Bot.) (a) Resembling chaff; composed of light dry scales. (b) Bearing or covered with dry scales, as the under surface of certain ferns, or the disk of some composite flowers.
CHAFING
Chaf"ing, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.]
Defn: The act of rubbing, or wearing by friction; making by rubbing. Chafing dish, a dish or vessel for cooking on the table, or for keeping food warm, either by coals, by a lamp, or by hot water; a portable grate for coals. — Chafing gear (Naut.), any material used to protect sails, rigging, or the like, at points where they are exposed to friction.
CHAGREEN
Cha*green", n.
Defn: See Shagreen.
CHAGRES FEVER
Cha"gres fe"ver. (Med.)
Defn: A form of malarial fever occurring along the Chagres River,
Panama.
CHAGRIN Cha*grin", n. Etym: [F., fr. chagrin shagreen, a particular kind of rough and grained leather; also a rough fishskin used for graters and files; hence (Fig.), a gnawing, corroding grief. See Shagreen.]
Defn: Vexation; mortification.
I must own that I felt rather vexation and chagrin than hope and
satisfaction. Richard Porson.
Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin. Pope.
Syn. — Vexation; mortification; peevishness; fretfulness; disgust; disquiet. Chagrin, Vexation, Mortification. These words agree in the general sense of pain produced by untoward circumstances. Vexation is a feeling of disquietude or irritating uneasiness from numerous causes, such as losses, disappointments, etc. Mortification is a stronger word, and denotes that keen sense of pain which results fron wounded pride or humiliating occurrences. Chagrin is literally the cutting pain produced by the friction of Shagreen leather; in its figurative sense, it varies in meaning, denoting in its lower degrees simply a state of vexation, and its higher degrees the keenest sense of mortification. "Vexation arises chiefly fron our wishes and views being crossed: mortification, from our self-importance being hurt; chagrin, from a mixture of the two." Crabb.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chagrined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chargrining.] Etym: [Cf. F. chagriner See Chagrin, n.]
Defn: To excite ill-humor in; to vex; to mortify; as, he was not a little chagrined.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", v. i.
Defn: To be vexed or annoyed. Fielding.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", a.
Defn: Chagrined. Dryden.
CHAIN
Chain, n. Etym: [F. chaîne, fr. L. catena. Cf. Catenate.]
1. A series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and transmission of mechanical power, etc. [They] put a chain of gold about his neck. Dan. v. 29.
2. That which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as, the chains of habit. Driven down To chains of darkness and the undying worm. Milton.
3. A series of things linked together; or a series of things connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas.
4. (Surv.)
Defn: An instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring land.
Note: One commonly in use is Gunter's chain, which consists of one hundred links, each link being seven inches and ninety-two one hundredths in length; making up the total length of rods, or sixty- six, feet; hence, a measure of that length; hence, also, a unit for land measure equal to four rods square, or one tenth of an acre.
5. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
6. (Weaving)
Defn: The warp threads of a web. Knight. Chain belt (Mach.), a belt made of a chain; — used for transmitting power. — Chain boat, a boat fitted up for recovering lost cables, anchors, etc. — Chain bolt (a) (Naut.) The bolt at the lower end of the chain plate, which fastens it to the vessel's side. (b) A bolt with a chain attached for drawing it out of position. — Chain bond. See Chain timber. — Chain bridge, a bridge supported by chain cables; a suspension bridge. — Chain cable, a cable made of iron links. — Chain coral (Zoöl.), a fossil coral of the genus Halysites, common in the middle and upper Silurian rocks. The tubular corallites are united side by side in groups, looking in an end view like links of a chain. When perfect, the calicles show twelve septa. — Chain coupling. (a) A shackle for uniting lengths of chain, or connecting a chain with an object. (b) (Railroad) Supplementary coupling together of cars with a chain. — Chain gang, a gang of convicts chained together. — Chain hook (Naut.), a hook, used for dragging cables about the deck. — Chain mail, flexible, defensive armor of hammered metal links wrought into the form of a garment. — Chain molding (Arch.), a form of molding in imitation of a chain, used in the Normal style. — Chain pier, a pier suspended by chain. — Chain pipe (Naut.), an opening in the deck, lined with iron, through which the cable is passed into the lockers or tiers. — Chain plate (Shipbuilding), one of the iron plates or bands, on a vessel's side, to which the standing rigging is fastened. — Chain pulley, a pulley with depressions in the periphery of its wheel, or projections from it, made to fit the links of a chain. — Chain pumps. See in the Vocabulary. — Chain rule (Arith.), a theorem for solving numerical problems by composition of ratios, or compound proportion, by which, when several ratios of equality are given, the consequent of each being the same as the antecedent of the next, the relation between the first antecedent and the last consequent is discovered. — Chain shot (Mil.), two cannon balls united by a shot chain, formerly used in naval warfare on account of their destructive effect on a ship's rigging. — Chain stitch. See in the Vocabulary. — Chain timber. (Arch.) See Bond timber, under Bond. — Chain wales. (Naut.) Same as Channels. — Chain wheel. See in the Vocabulary. — Closed chain, Open chain (Chem.), terms applied to the chemical structure of compounds whose rational formulæ are written respectively in the form of a closed ring (see Benzene nucleus, under Benzene), or in an open extended form. — Endless chain, a chain whose ends have been united by a link.
CHAIN
Chain, v. t. [imp. p. p. Chained (chand); p. pr. & vb. n. Chaining.]
1. To fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog. Chained behind the hostile car. Prior.
2. To keep in slavery; to enslave. And which more blest who chained his country, say Or he whose virtue sighed to lose a day Pope.
3. To unite closely and strongly. And in this vow do chain my soul to thine. Shak.
4. (Surveying)
Defn: To measure with the chain.
5. To protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor.
CHAINLESS
Chain"less, a.
Defn: Having no chain; not restrained or fettered. "The chainless mind." Byron.
CHAINLET
Chain"let, n.
Defn: A small chain. Sir W. Scott.
CHAIN PUMP
Chain" pump`.
Defn: A pump consisting of an endless chain, running over a drum or wheel by which it is moved, and dipping below the water to be raised. The chain has at intervals disks or lifts which fit the tube through which the ascending part passes and carry the water to the point of discharge.
CHAIN STITCH
Chain" stitch`.
1. An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain; — used in crocheting, sewing, and embroidery.
2. (Machine Sewing)
Defn: A stitch in which the looping of the thread or threads forms a chain on the under side of the work; the loop stitch, as distinguished from the lock stitch. See Stitch.
CHAIN TIE
Chain tie. (Arch.)
Defn: A tie consisting of a series of connected iron bars or rods.
CHAIN WHEEL
Chain" wheel`.
1. A chain pulley, or sprocket wheel.
2. An inversion of the chain pump, by which it becomes a motor driven by water.
CHAINWORK
Chain"work`, n.
Defn: Work looped or linked after the manner of a chain; chain stitch work.
CHAIR Chair, n. Etym: [OE. chaiere, chaere, OF. chaiere, chaere, F. chaire pulpit, fr. L. cathedra chair, armchair, a teacher's or professor's chair, Gr. sit. See Sit, and cf. Cathedral, chaise.]
1. A movable single seat with a back.
2. An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself. The chair of a philosophical school. Whewell. A chair of philology. M. Arnold.
3. The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address the chair.
4. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two- wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig. Shak. Think what an equipage thou hast in air, And view with scorn two pages and a chair. Pope.
5. An iron blok used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers. Chair days, days of repose and age. — To put into the chair, to elect as president, or as chairman of a meeting. Macaulay. — To take the chair, to assume the position of president, or of chairman of a meeting.
CHAIR
Chair, v. t. [imp. & p. pr. Chaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Chairing.]
1. To place in a chair.
2. To carry publicly in a chair in triumph. [Eng.]
CHAIRMAN
Chair"man, n.; pl. Chairmen (.
1. The presiding officer of a committee, or of a public or private meeting, or of any organized body.
2. One whose business it is to cary a chair or sedan. Breaks watchmen's heads and chairmen's glasses. Prior.
CHAIRMANSHIP
Chair"man*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a chairman of a meeting or organized body.
CHAISE Chaise, n. Etym: [F. chaise seat, or chair, chaise or carriage, for chaire, from a peculiar Parisian pronunciation. See Chair.]
1. A two-wheeled carriage for two persons, with a calash top, and the body hung on leather straps, or thoroughbraces. It is usually drawn by one horse.
2. Loosely,
Defn: a carriage in general. Cowper.
CHAJA
Cha"ja, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The crested screamer of Brazil (Palamedea, or Chauna, chavaria), so called in imitation of its notes; — called also chauna, and faithful kamichi. It is often domesticated and is useful in guarding other poultry. See Kamichi.
CHAK
Chak, v. i.
Defn: To toss up the head frequently, as a horse to avoid the restraint of the bridle.
CHALAZA
Cha*la"za, n.; pl. E. Chalazas, L. Chalazæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The place on an ovule, or seed, where its outer coats cohere with each other and the nucleus.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A spiral band of thickened albuminous substance which exists in the white of the bird's egg, and serves to maintain the yolk in its position; the treadle.
CHALAZAL
Cha*la"zal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the chalaza.
CHALAZE
Cha*laze", n.
Defn: Same as Chalaza.
CHALAZIFEROUS
Chal`a*zif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Chalaza + -ferous.]
Defn: Having or bearing chalazas.
CHALAZION
Cha*la"zi*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A small circumscribed tumor of the eyelid caused by retention of secretion, and by inflammation of the Melbomian glands.
CHALAZOGAMY
Chal`a*zog"a*my, n. [Chalaza + -gamy, as in polygamy.] (Bot.)
Defn: A process of fecundation in which the pollen tube penetrates to the embryosac through the tissue of the chalaza, instead of entering through the micropyle. It was originally discovered by Treub in Casuarina, and has since been found to occur regularly in the families Betulaceæ and Juglandaceæ. Partial chalazogamy is found in Ulmus, the tube here penetrating the nucleus midway between the chalaza and micropyle. —Chal`a*zo*gam"ic (#), a.
CHALCANTHITE
Chal*can"thite, n. Etym: [L. chalcanthum a solution of blue vitriol,
Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native blue vitriol. See Blue vitriol, under Blue.
CHALCEDONIC
Chal"ce*don"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to chalcedony.
CHALCEDONY Chal*ced"o*ny, n.; pl. Chalcedonies. Etym: [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. calcédoine, OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.] (Min.)
Defn: A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax. [Written also calcedony.]
Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it is called agate; and if by reason of the thickness, color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for being carved into cameos, it is called onyx. Chrysoprase is green chalcedony; carnelian, a flesh red, and sard, a brownish red variety.
CHALCHIHUITL
Chal`chi*huitl, n. (Min.)
Defn: The Mexican name for turquoise. See Turquoise.
CHALCID FLY
Chal"cid fly`. Etym: [From Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a numerous family of hymenopterous insects (Chalcididæ.
Many are gallflies, others are parasitic on insects.
CHALCIDIAN
Chal*cid"i*an, n. Etym: [L. chalcis a lizard, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tropical family of snakelike lizards (Chalcidæ), having four small or rudimentary legs.
CHALCOCITE
Chal"co*cite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native copper sulphide, called also copper glance, and vitreous copper; a mineral of a black color and metallic luster. [Formerly written chalcosine.]
CHALCOGRAPHER; CHALCOGRAPHIST
Chal*cog"ra*pher, Chal*cog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: An engraver on copper or brass; hence, an engraver of copper plates for printing upon paper.
CHALCOGRAPHY
Chal*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The act or art of engraving on copper or brass, especially of engraving for printing.
CHALCOPYRITE
Chal`co*pyr"ite, n. Etym: [Gr. pyrite. So named from its color.]
(Min.)
Defn: Copper pyrites, or yellow copper ore; a common ore of opper, containing copper, iron, and sulphur. It occurs massive and in tetragonal crystals of a bright brass yellow color.
CHALDAIC
Chal*da"ic, a. Etym: [L. Chaldaicus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldes.
— n.
Defn: The language or dialect of the Chaldeans; Chaldee.
CHALDAISM
Chal"da*ism, n.
Defn: An idiom or peculiarity in the Chaldee dialect.
CHALDEAN
Chal*de"an, a. Etym: [L. Chaldaeus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldea. — n. (a) A native or inhabitant of Chaldea. (b) A learned man, esp. an astrologer; — so called among the Eastern nations, because astrology and the kindred arts were much cultivated by the Chaldeans. (c) Nestorian.
CHALDEE
Chal"dee, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldea.
— n.
Defn: The language or dialect of the Chaldeans; eastern Aramaic, or the Aramaic used in Chaldea. Chaldee Paraphrase, A targum written in Aramaic.
CHALDRICH; CHALDER
Chal"drich, Chal"der, n. Etym: [Icel. tjaldr.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of bird; the oyster catcher.
CHALDRON Chal"dron, n. Etym: [OF. chaldron, F. chaudron kettle. The same word as caldron.]
Defn: An English dry measure, being, at London, 36 bushels heaped up, or its equivalent weight, and more than twice as much at Newcastle. Now used exlusively for coal and coke.
Note: In the United States the chaldron is ordinarily 2,940 lbs, but at New York it is 2,500 lbs. De Colange.
CHALET
Cha*let", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A herdsman's hut in the mountains of Switzerland. Chalets are summer huts for the Swiss herdsmen. Wordsworth.
2. A summer cottage or country house in the Swiss mountains; any country house built in the style of the Swiss cottages.
CHALICE Chal"ice, n. Etym: [OR. chalis, calice, OF. chalice, calice, F. calice, fr. L. calix, akin to Gr. helmet. Cf. Calice, Calyx.]
Defn: A cup or bowl; especially, the cup used in the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper.
CHALICED
Chal"iced, a.
Defn: Having a calyx or cup; cupshaped. "Chaliced flowers." Shak.
CHALK Chalk, n. Etym: [AS. cealc lime, from L. calx limestone. See Calz, and Cawk.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by
extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used
in the same manner. See Crayon. Black chalk, a mineral of a bluish
color, of a slaty texture, and soiling the fingers when handled; a
variety of argillaceous slate.
— By a long chalk, by a long way; by many degrees. [Slang] Lowell.
— Chalk drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with crayons. See
Crayon.
— Chalk formation. See Cretaceous formation, under Cretaceous.
— Chalk line, a cord rubbed with chalk, used for making straight
lines on boards or other material, as a guide in cutting or in
arranging work.
— Chalk mixture, a preparation of chalk, cinnamon, and sugar in gum
water, much used in diarrheal affection, esp. of infants.
— Chalk period. (Geol.) See Cretaceous period, under Cretaceous.
— Chalk pit, a pit in which chalk is dug.
— Drawing chalk. See Crayon, n., 1.
— French chalk, steatite or soapstone, a soft magnesian mineral.
— Red chalk, an indurated clayey ocher containing iron, and used by
painters and artificers; reddle.
CHALK
Chalk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chalked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chalking.]
1. To rub or mark with chalk.
2. To manure with chalk, as land. Morimer.
3. To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach. Tennyson. Let a bleak paleness chalk the door. Herbert. To chalk out, to sketch with, or as with, chalk; to outline; to indicate; to plan. [Colloq.] "I shall pursue the plan I have chalked out." Burke.
CHALKCUTTER
Chalk"cut`ter, n.
Defn: A man who digs chalk.
CHALKINESS
Chalk"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being chalky.
CHALKSTONE
Chalk"stone`, n.
1. A mass of chalk. As chalkstones . . . beaten in sunder. Isa. xxvii. 9.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A chalklike concretion, consisting mainly of urate of sodium, found in and about the small joints, in the external ear, and in other situations, in those affected with gout; a tophus.
CHALKY
Chalk"y, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, chalk; containing chalk; as, a chalky cliff; a chalky taste.
CHALLENGE Chal"lenge, n. Etym: [OE. chalenge claim, accusation, challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation, contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See Calumny.]
1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons. A challenge to controversy. Goldsmith.
2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign.
3. A claim or demand. [Obs.] There must be no challenge of superiority. Collier.
4. (Hunting)
Defn: The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game.
5. (Law)
Defn: An exception to a juror or to a member of a court martial, coupled with a demand that he should be held incompetent to act; the claim of a party that a certain person or persons shall not sit in trial upon him or his cause. Blackstone
6. An exception to a person as not legally qualifed to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U. S.] Challenge to the array (Law), an exception to the whole panel. — Challenge to the favor, the alleging a special cause, the sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and office it is to decide upon it. — Challenge to the polls, an exception taken to any one or more of the individual jurors returned. — Peremptory challenge, a privilege sometimes allowed to defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors (fixed by statute in different States) without assigning any cause. — Principal challenge, that which the law allows to be sufficient if found to be true.
CHALLENGE Chal"lenge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Challenged; p. pr. & vb. n. Challenging.] Etym: [OE. chalengen to accuse, claim, OF. chalengier, chalongier, to claim, accuse, dispute, fr. L. calumniar to attack with false accusations. See Challenge, n., and cf. Calumniate.]
1. To call to a contest of any kind; to call to answer; to defy. I challenge any man to make any pretense to power by right of fatherhood. Locke.
2. To call, invite, or summon to answer for an offense by personal combat. By this I challenge him to single fight. Shak.
3. To claim as due; to demand as a right. Challenge better terms. Addison.
4. To censure; to blame. [Obs.] He complained of the emperors . . . and challenged them for that he had no greater revenues . . . from them. Holland.
5. (Mil.)
Defn: To question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to pass the lines); as, the sentinel challenged us, with "Who comes there"
6. To take exception to; question; as, to challenge the accuracy of a statement or of a quotation.
7. (Law)
Defn: To object to or take exception to, as to a juror, or member of a court.
8. To object to the reception of the vote of, as on the ground that the person in not qualifed as a voter. [U. S.] To challenge to the array, favor, polls. See under Challenge, n.
CHALLENGE
Chal"lenge, v. i.
Defn: To assert a right; to claim a place.
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Shak.
CHALLENGEABLE
Chal"lenge*a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be challenged.
CHALLENGER
Chal"len*ger, n.
Defn: One who challenges.
CHALLIS
Chal"lis, n. Etym: [F. chaly, challis, a stuff made of goat's hair.]
Defn: A soft and delicate woolen, or woolen and silk, fabric, for ladies' dresses. [Written also chally.]
CHALON
Cha"lon, n.
Defn: A bed blanket. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHALYBEAN
Cha*lyb"e*an, a. Etym: [L. chalybeïus, fr. chalybs steel, Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to the Chalybes, an ancient people of Pontus in Asia Minor, celebrated for working in iron and steel.
2. Of superior quality and temper; — applied to steel. [Obs.] Milton.
CHALYBEATE
Cha*lyb"e*ate, a. Etym: [NL. chalybeatus, fr. chalubeïus. See
Chalubean.]
Defn: Impregnated with salts of iron; having a taste like iron; as, chalybeate springs.
CHALYBEATE
Cha*lyb"e*ate, n.
Defn: Any water, liquid, or medicine, into which iron enters as an ingredient.
CHALYBEOUS
Cha*lyb"e*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Steel blue; of the color of tempered steel.
CHALYBITE
Chal"y*bite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Native iron carbonate; — usually called siderite.
CHAM
Cham, v. t. Etym: [See Chap.]
Defn: To chew. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Sir T. More.
CHAM
Cham, n. Etym: [See Khan.]
Defn: The sovereign prince of Tartary; — now usually written khan.
Shak.
CHAMADE Cha*made, n. Etym: [F. chamade, fr. Pg. chamada, fr. chamar to call, fr. L. clamare.] (Mil.)
Defn: A signal made for a parley by beat of a drum.
They beat the chamade, and sent us carte blanche. Addison.
CHAMAL
Cha"mal, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Angora goat. See Angora goat, under Angora.
CHAMBER
Cham"ber, n. Etym: [F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in
LL. chamber, fr. Gr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera,
Comrade.]
1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.
2. pl.
Defn: Apartments in a lodging house. "A bachelor's life in chambers."
Thackeray.
3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber.
4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce.
5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eye.
6. pl. (Law.)
Defn: A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done out of court.
7. A chamber pot. [Colloq.]
8. (Mil.) (a) That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; — formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns. (b) A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the powder. (c) A short piece of ornance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades. Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the Vocabulary. — Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and traders of a city. — Chamber council, a secret council. Shak. — Chamber counsel or counselor, a counselor who gives his opinion in private, or at his chambers, but does not advocate causes in court. — Chamber fellow, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum. — Chamber hangings, tapestry or hangings for a chamber. — Chamber lye, urine. Shak. — Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or chuch. — Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in court. — To sit at chambers, to do business in chambers, as a judge.
CHAMBER
Cham"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chambered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chambering.]
1. To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.
2. To be lascivious. [Obs.]
CHAMBER
Cham"ber, v. t.
1. To shut up, as inn a chamber. Shak.
2. To furnish with a chamber; as, to chamber a gun.
CHAMBERED
Cham"bered, a.
Defn: Having a chamber or chambers; as, a chambered shell; a chambered gun.
CHAMBERER
Cham"ber*er, n.
1. One who attends in a chamber; a chambermaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A civilian; a carpetmonger. [Obs.]
CHAMBERING
Cham"ber*ing, n.
Defn: Lewdness. [Obs.] Rom. xiii. 13.
CHAMBERLAIN Cham"ber*lain, n. Etym: [OF. chamberlain, chambrelencF. chambellon, OHG. chamerling, chamarlinc, G. kämmerling, kammer chamber (fr. L. camera) + -ling. See Chamber, and -ling.] [Formerly written chamberlin.]
1. An officer or servant who has charge of a chamber or chambers.
2. An upper servant of an inn. [Obs.]
3. An officer having the direction and management of the private chambers of a nobleman or monarch; hence, in Europe, one of the high officers of a court.
4. A treasurer or receiver of public money; as, the chamberlain of London, of North Wales, etc. The lord chamberlain of England, an officer of the crown, who waits upon the sovereign on the day of coronation, and provides requisites for the palace of Westminster, and for the House of Lords during the session of Parliament. Under him are the gentleman of the black rod and other officers. His office is distinct from that of the lord chamberlain of the Household, whose functions relate to the royal housekeeping.
CHAMBERLAINSHIP
Cham"ber*lain*ship, n.
Defn: Office if a chamberlain.
CHAMBERMAID
Cham"ber*maid`, n.
1. A maidservant who has the care of chambers, making the beds, sweeping, cleaning the rooms, etc.
2. A lady's maid. [Obs.] Johnson.
CHAMBERTIN
Cham`ber*tin", n.
Defn: A red wine from Chambertin near Dijon, in Burgundy.
CHAMBRANLE
Cham`bran"le, n. [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: An ornamental bordering or framelike decoration around the sides and top of a door, window, or fireplace. The top piece is called the traverse and the side pieces the ascendants.
CHAMBRAY
Cham"bray, n. [From Cambrai, France. Cf. Cambric.]
Defn: A gingham woven in plain colors with linen finish.
CHAMBREL
Cham"brel, n.
Defn: Same as Gambrel.
CHAMECK
Cha*meck", n. Etym: [Native Brazilian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of spider monkey (Ateles chameck), having the thumbs rudimentary and without a nail.
CHAMELEON
Cha*me"le*on, n. Etym: [L. Chamaeleon, Gr. Humble, and Lion.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lizardlike reptile of the genus Chamæleo, of several species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is covered with fine granmulations; the tail is prehensile, and the body is much compressed laterally, giving it a high back.
Note: Its color changes more or less with the color of the objects about it, or with its temper when disturbed. In a cool, dark place it is nearly white, or grayish; on admitting the light, it changes to brown, bottle-green, or blood red, of various shades, and more or less mottled in arrangment. The American chameleons belong to Anolis and allied genera of the family Iguanidæ. They are more slender in form than the true chameleons, but have the same power of changing their colors. Chameleon mineral (Chem.), the compound called potassium permanganate, a dark violet, crystalline substance, KMnO4, which in formation passes through a peculiar succession of color from green to blue, purple, red, etc. See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.
CHAMELEONIZE
Cha*me"le*on*ize, v. t.
Defn: To change into various colors. [R.]
CHAMFER
Cham"fer, n. Etym: [See Chamfron.]
Defn: The surface formed by cutting away the arris, or angle, formed by two faces of a piece of timber, stone, etc.
CHAMFER
Cham"fer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chamfered ; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chamfering.(
1. (Carp.)
Defn: To cut a furrow in, as in a column; to groove; to channel; to flute.
2. To make a chamfer on.
CHAMFRET
Cham"fret, n. Etym: [See Chamfron.]
1. (Carp.)
Defn: A small gutter; a furrow; a groove.
2. A chamfer.
CHAMFRON
Cham"fron, n. Etym: [F. chanfrein.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: The frontlet, or head armor, of a horse. [Written also champfrain and chamfrain.]
CHAMISAL
Cha`mi*sal", n. [Amer. Sp., fr. Sp. chamiza a kind of wild cane.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A California rosaceous shrub (Adenostoma fasciculatum) which often forms an impenetrable chaparral.
2. A chaparral formed by dense growths of this shrub.
CHAMLET
Cham"let, n.
Defn: See Camlet. [Obs.]
CHAMOIS
Cham"ois, n. Etym: [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small species of antelope (Rupicapra tragus), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It possesses remarkable agility, and is a favorite object of chase.
2. A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from sheepskin, etc.; — called also chamois leather, and chammy or shammy leather. See Shammy.
CHAMOMILE
Cham"o*mile, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Camomile.
CHAMP Champ, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Champed; p. pr. & vb. n. Champing.] Etym: [Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kämsa to chew with difficulty, champ; but cf. also OF. champier, champeyer, champoyer, to graze in fields, fr. F. champ field, fr. L. campus. Cf. Camp.]
1. To bite with repeated action of the teeth so as to be heard. Foamed and champed the golden bit. Dryden.
2. To bite into small pieces; to crunch. Steele.
CHAMP
Champ, v. i.
Defn: To bite or chew impatiently.
They began . . . irefully to champ upon the bit. Hooker.
CHAMP; CHAMPE
Champ, Champe, n. Etym: [F. champ, L. campus field.] (Arch.)
Defn: The field or ground on which carving appears in relief.
CHAMPAGNE
Cham*pagne", n. Etym: [F. See Champaign.]
Defn: A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France.
Note: Champagne properly includes several kinds not only of sparkling but off still wines; but in America the term is usually restricted to wines which effervesce.
CHAMPAIGN
Cham*paign", n. Etym: [OF. champaigne; same word as campagne.]
Defn: A flat, open country.
Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined. Milton.
Through Apline vale or champaign wide. Wordsworth.
CHAMPAIGN
Cham*paign", a.
Defn: Flat; open; level.
A wide, champaign country, filled with herds. Addison.
CHAMPER
Champ"er, n.
Defn: One who champs, or bites.
CHAMPERTOR Cham"per*tor, n. Etym: [F. champarteur a divider of fields or field rent. See Champerty.] (Law)
Defn: One guilty of champerty; one who purchases a suit, or the right of suing, and carries it on at his own expense, in order to obtain a share of the gain.
CHAMPERTY
Cham"per*ty, n. Etym: [F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ
(L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share.]
1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [Obs.] Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness, Ne may with Venus holde champartye. Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See Maintenance.
Note: By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable.
CHAMPIGNON Cham*pi"gnon, n. Etym: [F., a mushroom, ultimately fr. L. campus field. See Camp.] (Bot.)
Defn: An edible species of mushroom (Agaricus campestris). Fairy ring champignon, the Marasmius oreades, which has a strong flavor but is edible.
CHAMPION Cham"pi*on, n. Etym: [F. champion, fr. LL.campio, of German origin; cf. OHG. chempho, chemphio, fighter, champf, G. kampf, contest; perh. influenced by L. campus field, taken in the sense of "field of battle."]
1. One who engages in any contest; esp. one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of another's honor or rights; or one who acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an advocate; a hero. A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak. Champions of law and liberty. Fisher Ames.
2. One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an acknowledged supremacy in any branch of athetics or game of skill, and is ready to contend with any rival; as, the champion of England.
Note: Champion is used attributively in the sense of surpassing all competitors; overmastering; as, champion pugilist; champion chess player.
Syn.
— Leader; chieftain; combatant; hero; warrior; defender; protector.
CHAMPION
Cham"pi*on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Championed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Championing.] [Obs.] Shak.
2. To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to support or maintain; to protect. Championed or unchampioned, thou diest. Sir W. Scott.
CHAMPIONNESS
Cham"pi*on*ness, n.
Defn: A female champion. Fairfax.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Cham"pi*on*ship, n.
Defn: State of being champion; leadership; supremancy.
CHAMPLAIN PERIOD
Cham*plain" pe"ri*od. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision of the Quaternary age immediately following the
Glacial period; — so named from beds near Lake Champlain.
Note: The earlier deposits of this period are diluvial in character, as if formed in connection with floods attending the melting of the glaciers, while the later deposits are of finer material in more quiet waters, as the alluvium.
CHAMPLEVE
Champ`le*vé", a. [F., p. p. of champlever to engrave. See 3d Champ,
Camp, Lever a bar.] (Art)
Defn: Having the ground engraved or cut out in the parts to be enameled; inlaid in depressions made in the ground; — said of a kind of enamel work in which depressions made in the surface are filled with enamel pastes, which are afterward fired; also, designating the process of making such enamel work. —n.
Defn: A piece of champlevé enamel; also, the process or art of making such enamel work; champlevé work.
CHAMSIN
Cham*sin", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Kamsin.
CHANCE Chance, n. Etym: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. çad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]
1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; — in this sense often personifed. It is strictly and philosophically true in nature and reason that there is no such thing as chance or accident; it being evident that these words do not signify anything really existing, anything that is truly an agent or the cause of any event; but they signify merely men's ignorance of the real and immediate cause. Samuel Clark. Any society into which chance might throw him. Macaulay. That power Which erring men call Chance. Milton.
2. The operation or activity of such agent. By chance a priest came down that way. Luke x. 31.
3. The supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty. It was a chance that happened to us. 1 Sam. vi. 9. The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (O shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts. Pope. I spake of most disastrous chance. Shak.
4. A possibity; a likelihood; an opportunity; — with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him. So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune. That I would get my life on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on't Shak.
5. (Math.)
Defn: Probability.
Note: The mathematical expression, of a chance is the ratio of frequency with which an event happens in the long run. If an event may happen in a ways and may fail in b ways, and each of these a + b ways is equally likely, the chance, or probability, that the event will happen is measured by the fraction a/(a + b), and the chance, or probability, that it will fail is measured by b/(a + b). Chance comer, one who, comes unexpectedly. — The last chance, the sole remaining ground of hope. — The main chance, the chief opportunity; that upon which reliance is had, esp. self-interest. — Theory of chances, Doctrine of chances (Math.), that branch of mathematics which treats of the probability of the occurrence of particular events, as the fall of dice in given positions. — To mind one's chances, to take advantage of every circumstance; to seize every opportunity.
CHANCE
Chance, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Chancing.]
Defn: To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation.
"Things that chance daily." Robynson (More's Utopia).
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee. Deut. xxii. 6.
I chanced on this letter. Shak.
Note: Often used impersonally; as, how chances it
How chance, thou art returned so soon Shak.
CHANCE
Chance, v. t.
1. To take the chances of; to venture upon; — usually with it as object. Come what will, I will chance it. W. D. Howells.
2. To befall; to happen to. [Obs.] W. Lambarde.
CHANCE
Chance, a.
Defn: Happening by chance; casual.
CHANCE
Chance, adv.
Defn: By chance; perchance. Gray.
CHANCEABLE
Chance"a*ble, a.
Defn: Fortuitous; casual. [Obs.]
CHANCEABLY
Chance"a*bly, adv.
Defn: By chance. [Obs.]
CHANCEFUL
Chance"ful, a.
Defn: Hazardous. [Obs.] Spenser.
CHANCEL Chan"cel, n. Etym: [OF. chancel, F. chanceau, cancel, fr. L. cancelli lattices, crossbars. (The chancel was formerly inclosed with lattices or crossbars) See Cancel, v. t.] (Arch.) (a) That part of a church, reserved for the use of the clergy, where the altar, or communion table, is placed. Hence, in modern use; (b) All that part of a cruciform church which is beyond the line of the transept farthest from the main front. Chancel aisle (Arch.), the aisle which passes on either side of or around the chancel. — Chancel arch (Arch.), the arch which spans the main opening, leading to the chancel — Chancel casement, the principal window in a chancel. Tennyson. — Chancel table, the communion table.
CHANCELLERY
Chan"cel*ler*y, n. Etym: [Cf. Chancery.]
Defn: Chancellorship. [Obs.] Gower.
CHANCELLOR Chan"cel*lor, n. Etym: [OE. canceler, chaunceler, F. chancelier, LL. cancellarius chancellor, a director of chancery, fr. L. cancelli lattices, crossbars, which surrounded the seat of judgment. See Chancel.]
Defn: A judicial court of chancery, which in England and in the
United States is distinctively a court with equity jurisdiction.
Note: The chancellor was originally a chief scribe or secretary under the Roman emperors, but afterward was invested with judicial powers, and had superintendence over the other officers of the empire. From the Roman empire this office passed to the church, and every bishop has his chancellor, the principal judge of his consistory. In later times, in most countries of Europe, the chancellor was a high officer of state, keeper of the great seal of the kingdom, and having the supervision of all charters, and like public instruments of the crown, which were authenticated in the most solemn manner. In France a secretary is in some cases called a chancellor. In Scotland, the appellation is given to the foreman of a jury, or assize. In the present German empire, the chancellor is the president of the federal council and the head of the imperial administration. In the United States, the title is given to certain judges of courts of chancery or equity, established by the statutes of separate States. Blackstone. Wharton. Chancellor of a bishop, or of a diocese (R. C. Ch. & ch. of Eng.), a law officer appointed to hold the bishop's court in his diocese, and to assist him in matter of ecclesiastical law. — Chancellor of a cathedral, one of the four chief dignitaries of the cathedrals of the old foundation, and an officer whose duties are chiefly educational, with special reference to the cultivation of theology. — Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, an officer before whom, or his deputy, the court of the duchy chamber of Lancaster is held. This is a special jurisdiction. — Chancellor of a university, the chief officer of a collegiate body. In Oxford, he is elected for life; in Cambridge, for a term of years; and his office is honorary, the chief duties of it devolving on the vice chancellor. — Chancellor of the exchequer, a member of the British cabinet upon whom devolves the charge of the public income and expenditure as the highest finance minister of the government. — Chancellor of the order of the Garter (or other military orders), an officer who seals the commissions and mandates of the chapter and assembly of the knights, keeps the register of their proceedings, and delivers their acts under the seal of their order. — Lord high chancellor of England, the presiding judge in the court of chancery, the highest judicial officer of the crown, and the first lay person of the state after the blood royal. He is created chancellor by the delivery into his custody of the great seal, of which he becomes keeper. He is privy counselor by his office, and prolocutor of the House of Lords by prescription.
CHANCELLORSHIP
Chan"cel*lor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a chancellor; the time during which one is chancellor.
CHANCE-MEDLEY
Chance"-med`ley, n. Etym: [Chance + medley.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The kiling of another in self-defense upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. See Chaud-Medley.
Note: The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens in defending one's self against assault. Bouvier.
2. Luck; chance; accident. Milton. Cowper.
CHANCERY Chan"cer*y, n. Etym: [F. chancellerie, LL. cancellaria, from L. cancellarius. See Chancellor, and cf. Chancellery.]
1. In England, formerly, the highest court of judicature next to the Parliament, exercising jurisdiction at law, but chiefly in equity; but under the jurisdiction act of 1873 it became the chancery division of the High Court of Justice, and now exercises jurisdiction only in equity.
2. In the Unites States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in equity.
Note: A court of chancery, so far as it is a court of equity, in the English and American sense, may be generally, if not precisely, described as one having jurisdiction in cases of rights, recognized and protected by the municipal jurisprudence, where a plain, adequate, and complete remedy can not be had in the courts of common law. In some of the American States, jurisdiction at law and in equity centers in the same tribunal. The courts of the United States also have jurisdiction both at law and in equity, and in all such cases they exercise their jurisdiction, as courts of law, or as courts of equity, as the subject of adjudication may require. In others of the American States, the courts that administer equity are distinct tribunals, having their appropriate judicial officers, and it is to the latter that the appellation courts of chancery is usually applied; but, in American law, the terms equity and court of equity are more frequently employed than the corresponding terms chancery and court of chancery. Burrill. Inns of chancery. See under Inn. — To get (or to hold) In chancery (Boxing), to get the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will; hence, to have wholly in One's power. The allusion is to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court, where he was helpless, while the lawyers lived upon his estate.
CHANCRE
Chan"cre, n. Etym: [F. chancere. See Cancer.] (Med.)
Defn: A venereal sore or ulcer; specifically, the initial lesion of true syphilis, whether forming a distinct ulcer or not; — called also hard chancre, indurated chancre, and Hunterian chancre. Soft chancre. A chancroid. See Chancroid.
CHANCROID
Chan"croid, n. Etym: [Chancre + -oil.] (Med.)
Defn: A venereal sore, resembling a chancre in its seat and some external characters, but differing from it in being the starting point of a purely local process and never of a systemic disease; — called also soft chancre.
CHANCROUS
Chan"crous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chancreux.] (Med.)
Defn: Of the nature of a chancre; having chancre.
CHANDELIER
Chan`de*lier", n. Etym: [F. See Chandler.]
1. A candlestick, lamp, stand, gas fixture, or the like, having several branches; esp., one hanging from the ceiling.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: A movable parapet, serving to support fascines to cover pioneers. [Obs.]
CHANDLER
Chan"dler, n. Etym: [F. chandelier a candlestick, a maker or seller
of candles, LL. candelarius chandler, fr. L. candela candle. See
Candle, and cf. Chandelier.]
1. A maker or seller of candles. The chandler's basket, on his shoulder borne, With tallow spots thy coat. Gay.
2. A dealer in other commodities, which are indicated by a word prefixed; as, ship chandler, corn chandler.
CHANDLERLY
Chan"dler*ly, a.
Defn: Like a chandler; in a petty way. [Obs.] Milton.
CHANDLERY
Chan"dler*y, n.
Defn: Commodities sold by a chandler.
CHANDOO
Chan*doo", n.
Defn: An extract or preparation of opium, used in China and India for smoking. Balfour.
CHANDRY
Chan"dry, n.
Defn: Chandlery. [Obs.] "Torches from the chandry." B. Jonson.
CHANFRIN
Chan"frin, n. Etym: [F. chanfrein. Cf. Chamfron.]
Defn: The fore part of a horse's head.
CHANGE
Change, v. t. [Imp. & p. p. Changed; p. pr. & vb. n. Changing.] Etym:
[F. changer, fr. LL. cambiare, to exchange, barter, L. cambire. Cf.
Cambial.]
1. To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance. Therefore will I change their glory into shame. Hosea. iv. 7.
2. To alter by substituting something else for, or by giving up for something else; as, to change the clothes; to change one's occupation; to change one's intention. They that do change old love for new, Pray gods, they change for worse! Peele.
3. To give and take reciprocally; to exchange; — followed by with; as, to change place, or hats, or money, with another. Look upon those thousands with whom thou wouldst not, for any interest, change thy fortune and condition. Jer. Taylor.
4. Specifically: To give, or receive, smaller denominations of money (technically called change) for; as, to change a gold coin or a bank bill. He pulled out a thirty-pound note and bid me change it. Goldsmith. To change a horse, or To change hand (Man.), to turn or bear the horse's head from one hand to the other, from the left to right, or from the right to the left. — To change hands, to change owners. — To change one's tune, to become less confident or boastful. [Colloq.] — To change step, to take a break in the regular succession of steps, in marching or walking, as by bringing the hollow of one foot against the heel of the other, and then stepping off with the foot which is in advance.
Syn. — To alter; vary; deviate; substitute; innovate; diversify; shift; veer; turn. See Alter.
CHANGE
Change, v. i.
1. To be altered; to undergo variation; as, men sometimes change for the better. For I am Lord, I change not. Mal. iii. 6.
2. To pass from one phase to another; as, the moon changes to-morrow night.
CHANGE
Change, n. Etym: [F. change, fr. changer. See Change. v. t.]
1. Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or principles. Apprehensions of a change of dynasty. Hallam. All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job xiv. 14.
2. A succesion or substitution of one thing in the place of another; a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons. Our fathers did for change to France repair. Dryden. The ringing grooves of change. Tennyson.
3. A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon.
4. Alteration in the order of a series; permutation.
5. That which makes a variety, or may be substituted for another. Thirty change (R.V. changes) of garments. Judg. xiv. 12.
6. Small money; the money by means of which the larger coins and bank bills are made available in small dealings; hence, the balance returned when payment is tendered by a coin or note exceeding the sum due.
7. Etym: [See Exchange.]
Defn: A place where merchants and others meet to transact business; a building appropriated for mercantile transactions. [Colloq. for Exchange.]
8. A public house; an alehouse. [Scot.] They call an alehouse a change. Burt.
9. (Mus.)
Defn: Any order in which a number of bells are struck, other than that of the diatonic scale. Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing. Holder. Change of life, the period in the life of a woman when menstruation and the capacity for conception cease, usually occurring between forty-five and fifty years of age. — Change ringing, the continual production, without repetition, of changes on bells, See def. 9. above. — Change wheel (Mech.), one of a set of wheels of different sizes and number of teeth, that may be changed or substituted one for another in machinery, to produce a different but definite rate of angular velocity in an axis, as in cutting screws, gear, etc. — To ring the changes on, to present the same facts or arguments in variety of ways.
Syn. — Variety; variation; alteration; mutation; transition; vicissitude; innovation; novelty; transmutation; revolution; reverse.
CHANGEABILITY
Change`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Changeableness.
CHANGEABLE
Change"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. changeable.]
1. Capable of change; subject to alteration; mutable; variable; fickle; inconstant; as, a changeable humor.
2. Appearing different, as in color, in different lights, or under different circumstances; as, changeable silk.
Syn. — Mutable; alterable; variable; inconstant; fitful; vacillating; capricious; fickle; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; erratic; giddy; volatile.
CHANGEABLENESS
Change"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being changeable; fickleness; inconstancy; mutability.
CHANGEABLY
Change"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a changeable manner.
CHANGEFUL
Change"ful, a.
Defn: Full of change; mutable; inconstant; fickle; uncertain. Pope.
His course had been changeful. Motley.
— Change"ful*ly, adv.
— Change"ful*ness, n.
CHANGE GEAR
Change gear. (Mach.)
Defn: A gear by means of which the speed of machinery or of a vehicle may be changed while that of the propelling engine or motor remains constant; — called also change-speed gear.
CHANGE KEY
Change key.
Defn: A key adapted to open only one of a set of locks; — distinguished from a master key.
CHANGELESS
Change"less, a.
Defn: That can not be changed; constant; as, a changeless purpose.
— Change"less*ness, n.
CHANGELING
Change"ling, n. Etym: [Change + -ling.]
1. One who, or that which, is left or taken in the place of another, as a child exchanged by fairies. Such, men do changelings call, so changed by fairies' theft. Spenser. The changeling [a substituted writing] never known. Shak.
2. A simpleton; an idiot. Macaulay. Changelings and fools of heaven, and thence shut out. Wildly we roam in discontent about. Dryden.
3. One apt to change; a waverer. "Fickle changelings." Shak.
CHANGELING
Change"ling, a.
1. Taken or left in place of another; changed. "A little changeling boy." Shak.
2. Given to change; inconstant. [Obs.] Some are so studiously changeling. Boyle.
CHANGER
Chan"ger, n.
1. One who changes or alters the form of anything.
2. One who deals in or changes money. John ii. 14.
3. One apt to change; an inconstant person.
CHANK
Chank", n. Etym: [Skr. çankha. See Conch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The East Indian name for the large spiral shell of several species of sea conch much used in making bangles, esp. Turbinella pyrum. Called also chank chell.
CHANNEL Chan"nel, n. Etym: [OE. chanel, canel, OF. chanel, F. chenel, fr. L. canalis. See Canal.]
1. The hollow bed where a stream of water runs or may run.
2. The deeper part of a river, harbor, strait, etc., where the main current flows, or which affords the best and safest passage for vessels.
3. (Geog.)
Defn: A strait, or narrow sea, between two portions of lands; as, the
British Channel.
4. That through which anything passes; means of passing, conveying, or transmitting; as, the news was conveyed to us by different channels. The veins are converging channels. Dalton. At best, he is but a channel to convey to the National assembly such matter as may import that body to know. Burke.
5. A gutter; a groove, as in a fluted column.
6. pl. Etym: [Cf. Chain wales.] (Naut.)
Defn: Flat ledges of heavy plank bolted edgewise to the outside of a vessel, to increase the spread of the shrouds and carry them clear of the bulwarks. Channel bar, Channel iron (Arch.), an iron bar or beam having a section resembling a flat gutter or channel. — Channel bill (Zoöl.), a very large Australian cucko (Scythrops Novæhollandiæ. — Channel goose. (Zoöl.) See Gannet.
CHANNEL Chan"nel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Channeled, or Channelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Channeling, or Channelling.]
1. To form a channel in; to cut or wear a channel or channels in; to groove. No more shall trenching war channel her fields. Shak.
2. To course through or over, as in a channel. Cowper.
CHANNELING
Chan"nel*ing, n.
1. The act or process of forming a channel or channels.
2. A channel or a system of channels; a groove.
CHANSON
Chan"son, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cantion song. See Cantion, Canzone.]
Defn: A song. Shak.
CHANSON DE GESTE
Chan`son" de geste". [F., prop., song of history.]
Defn: Any Old French epic poem having for its subject events or exploits of early French history, real or legendary, and written originally in assonant verse of ten or twelve syllables. The most famous one is the Chanson de Roland.
Langtoft had written in the ordinary measure of the later chansons de
geste.
Saintsbury.
CHANSONNETTE
Chan`son*nette", n.; pl. Chansonnettes. Etym: [F., dim. of chanson.]
Defn: A little song.
These pretty little chansonnettes that he sung. Black.
CHANT
Chant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chanting.] Etym:
[F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant
affected speaking, and see Hen.]
1. To utter with a melodious voice; to sing. The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music. Spenser.
2. To celebrate in song. The poets chant in the theaters. Bramhall.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.
CHANT
Chant, v. i.
1. To make melody with the voice; to sing. "Chant to the sound of the viol." Amos vi. 5.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: To sing, as in reciting a chant. To chant (or chaunt) horses, to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter. Thackeray.
CHANT Chant, n.Etym: [F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, v. t.]
1. Song; melody.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music.
3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting.
4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [R.] His strange face, his strange chant. Macaulay. Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian. Chant royal Etym: [F.], in old French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a concluding stanza. — each of these six parts ending with a common refrain. — Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.
CHANTANT
Chan`tant", a. Etym: [F. singing.] (Mus.)
Defn: Composed in a melodious and singing style.
CHANTER
Chant"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chanteur.]
1. One who chants; a singer or songster. Pope.
2. The chief singer of the chantry. J. Gregory.
3. The flute or finger pipe in a bagpipe. See Bagpipe.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hedge sparrow.
CHANTERELLE
Chan`te*relle", n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name for several species of mushroom, of which one
(Cantharellus cibrius) is edible, the others reputed poisonous.
CHANTEY
Chant"ey, n. [Cf. F. chanter to sing, and Chant. n.]
Defn: A sailor's song.
May we lift a deep-sea chantey such as seamen use at sea
Kipling.
CHANTICLEER
Chan"ti*cleer, n. Etym: [F. Chanteclair, name of the cock in the
Roman du Renart (Reynard the Fox); chanter to chant + clair clear.
See Chant, and Clear.]
Defn: A cock, so called from the clearness or loundness of his voice in crowing.
CHANTING
Chant"ing, n.
Defn: Singing, esp. as a chant is sung. Chanting falcon (Zoöl.), an African falcon (Melierax canorus or musicus). The male has the habit, remarkable in a bird of prey, of singing to his mate, while she is incubating.
CHANTOR
Chant"or, n.
Defn: A chanter.
CHANTRESS
Chant"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chanteresse.]
Defn: A female chanter or singer. Milton.
CHANTRY Chant"ry, n.; pl. Chantries. Etym: [OF. chanterie, fr. chanter to sing.]
1. An endowment or foundation for the chanting of masses and offering of prayers, commonly for the founder.
2. A chapel or altar so endowed. Cowell.
CHAOMANCY
Cha"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of apperances in the air.
CHAOS
Cha"os, n. Etym: [L. chaos chaos (in senses 1 & 2), Gr. Chasm.]
1. An empty, immeasurable space; a yawning chasm. [Archaic] Between us and there is fixed a great chaos. Luke xvi. 26 (Rhemish Trans. ).
2. The confused, unorganized condition or mass of matter before the creation of distinct and order forms.
3. Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a confused mixture; confusion; disorder.
CHAOTIC
Cha*ot"ic, a.
Defn: Resembling chaos; confused.
CHAOTICALLY
Cha*ot"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chaotic manner.
CHAP
Chap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chapping.] Etym:
[See Chop to cut.]
1. To cause to open in slits or chinks; to split; to cause the skin of to crack or become rough. Then would unbalanced heat licentious reign, Crack the dry hill, and chap the russet plain. Blackmore. Nor winter's blast chap her fair face. Lyly.
2. To strike; to beat. [Scot.]
CHAP
Chap, v. i.
1. To crack or open in slits; as, the earth chaps; the hands chap.
2. To strike; to knock; to rap. [Scot.]
CHAP
Chap, n. Etym: [From Chap, v. t. & i.]
1. A cleft, crack, or chink, as in the surface of the earth, or in the skin.
2. A division; a breach, as in a party. [Obs.] Many clefts and chaps in our council board. T. Fuller.
3. A blow; a rap. [Scot.]
CHAP
Chap, n. Etym: [OE. chaft; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel kjaptr jaw, Sw.
Käft, D. kiæft; akin to G. kiefer, and E. jowl. Cf. Chops.]
1. One of the jaws or the fleshy covering of a jaw; — commonly in the plural, and used of animals, and colloquially of human beings. His chaps were all besmeared with crimson blood. Cowley. He unseamed him [Macdonald] from the nave to the chaps. Shak.
2. One of the jaws or cheeks of a vise, etc.
CHAP Chap, n. Etym: [Perh. abbreviated fr. chapman, but used in a more general sense; or cf. Dan. kiæft jaw, person, E. chap jaw.]
1. A buyer; a chapman. [Obs.] If you want to sell, here is your chap. Steele.
2. A man or boy; a youth; a fellow. [Colloq.]
CHAP
Chap, v. i. Etym: [See Cheapen.]
Defn: To bargain; to buy. [Obs.]
CHAPARAJOS
Cha`pa*ra"jos, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]
Defn: Overalls of sheepskin or leather, usually open at the back, worn, esp. by cowboys, to protect the legs from thorny bushes, as in the chaparral; — called also chapareras or colloq. chaps. [Sp. Amer.]
CHAPARERAS
Cha`pa*re"ras, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]
Defn: Same as Chaparajos. [Sp. Amer.]
CHAPARRAL
Cha`par*ral", n. Etym: [Sp., fr. chaparro an evergeen oak.]
1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks.
2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny shrubs and brambles. Chaparral cock; fem. Chaparral hen (Zoöl.), a bird of the cuckoo family (Geococcyx Californianus), noted for running with great speed. It ranges from California to Mexico and eastward to Texas; — called also road runner, ground cuckoo, churea, and snake killerit is the state bird of New Mexico.
CHAPBOOK
Chap"book`, n. Etym: [See Chap to cheapen.]
Defn: Any small book carried about for sale by chapmen or hawkers.
Hence, any small book; a toy book.
CHAPE Chape, n. Etym: [F., a churchman's cope, a cover, a chape, fr. L. cappa. See Cap.]
1. The piece by which an object is attached to something, as the frog of a scabbard or the metal loop at the back of a buckle by which it is fastened to a strap.
2. The transverse guard of a sword or dagger.
3. The metal plate or tip which protects the end of a scabbard, belt, etc. Knight.
CHAPEAU
Cha`peau", n.; pl. Chapeux. Etym: [F., fr. OF. chapel hat. See
Chaplet.]
1. hat or covering for the head.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A cap of maintenance. See Maintenance. Chapeau bras ( Etym: [F. chapeau hat + bras arm], a hat so made that it can be compressed and carried under the arm without injury. Such hats were particularly worn on dress occasions by gentlemen in the 18th century. A chapeau bras is now worn in the United States army by general and staff officers.
CHAPED
Chaped, p. p. or a.
Defn: Furnished with a chape or chapes. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHAPEL Chap"el, n. Etym: [OF. chapele, F. chapelle, fr. LL. capella, orig., a short cloak, hood, or cowl; later, a reliquary, sacred vessel, chapel; dim. of cappa, capa, cloak, cape, cope; also, a covering for the head. The chapel where St. Martin's cloak was preserved as a precious relic, itself came to be called capella, whence the name was applied to similar paces of worship, and the guardian of this cloak was called capellanus, or chaplain. See Cap, and cf. Chaplain., Chaplet.]
1. A subordinate place of worship; as, (a) a small church, often a private foundation, as for a memorial; (b) a small building attached to a church; (c) a room or recess in a church, containing an altar.
Note: In Catholic churches, and also in cathedrals and abbey churches, chapels are usually annexed in the recesses on the sides of the aisles. Gwilt.
2. A place of worship not connected with a church; as, the chapel of a palace, hospital, or prison.
3. In England, a place of worship used by dissenters from the Established Church; a meetinghouse.
4. A choir of singers, or an orchastra, attached to the court of a prince or nobleman.
5. (Print.) (a) A printing office, said to be so called because printing was first carried on in England in a chapel near Westminster Abbey. (b) An association of workmen in a printing office. Chapel of ease. (a) A chapel or dependent church built for the ease or a accommodation of an increasing parish, or for parishioners who live at a distance from the principal church. (b) A privy. (Law) — Chapel master, a director of music in a chapel; the director of a court or orchestra. — To build a chapel (Naut.), to chapel a ship. See Chapel, v. t., 2. — To hold a chapel, to have a meeting of the men employed in a printing office, for the purpose of considering questions affecting their interests.
CHAPEL
Chap"el, v. t.
1. To deposit or inter in a chapel; to enshrine. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To cause (a ship taken aback in a light breeze) so to turn or make a circuit as to recover, without bracing the yards, the same tack on which she had been sailing.
CHAPELESS
Chape"less, a.
Defn: Without a chape.
CHAPELET
Chap"e*let, n. Etym: [F. See Chaplet.]
1. A pair of Straps, with stirrups, joined at the top and fastened to the pommel or the frame of the saddle, after they have been adjusted to the convenience of the rider. [Written also chaplet.]
2. A kind of chain pump, or dredging machine.
CHAPELLANY Chap"el*la*ny, n.; pl. Chapellanies. Etym: [Cf. E. chapellenie, LL. capellania. See Chaplain.]
Defn: A chapel within the jurisdiction of a church; a subordinate ecclesiastical foundation.
CHAPELRY
Chap"el*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chapelerie.]
Defn: The territorial disrict legally assigned to a chapel.
CHAPERON
Chap"er*on, n. Etym: [F. chaperon. See Chape, Cape, Cap.]
1. A hood; especially, an ornamental or an official hood. His head and face covered with a chaperon, out of which there are but two holes to look through. Howell.
2. A divice placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse in pompous funerals.
3. A matron who accompanies a young lady in public, for propriety, or as a guide and protector.
CHAPERON
Chap"er*on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chaperoned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chaperoning.] Etym: [Cf. F. chaperonner, fr. chaperon.]
Defn: To attend in public places as a guide and protector; to
matronize.
Fortunately Lady Bell Finley, whom I had promised to chaperon, sent
to excuse herself. Hannah More.
CHAPERONAGE
Chap"er*on`age, n.
Defn: Attendance of a chaperon on a lady in public; protection afforded by a chaperon.
CHAPFALLEN
Chap"fall`en, a.
Defn: Having the lower chap or jaw drooping, — an indication of humiliation and dejection; crestfallen; discouraged. See Chopfallen.
CHAPITER Chap"i*ter, n. Etym: [OF. chapitel, F. chapiteau, from L. capitellum, dim. of caput head. Cf. Capital, Chapter.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A capital [Obs.] See Chapital. Ex. xxxvi. 38.
2. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A summary in writing of such matters as are to be inquired of or presented before justices in eyre, or justices of assize, or of the peace, in their sessions; — also called articles. Jacob.
CHAPLAIN
Chap"lain, n. Etym: [F. chapelain, fr. LL. capellanus, fr. capella.
See Chapel.]
1. An ecclesiastic who has a chapel, or who performs religious service in a chapel.
2. A clergyman who is officially atteched to the army or navy, to some public institution, or to a family or court, for the purpose of performing divine service.
3. Any person (clergyman or layman) chosen to conduct religious exercises for a society, etc.; as, a chaplain of a Masonic or a temperance lodge.
CHAPLAINCY
Chap"lain*cy, n.; pl. Chaplaincies (.
Defn: The office, position, or station of a chaplain. Swift.
CHAPLAINSHIP
Chap"lain*ship, n.
1. The office or business of a chaplain. The Bethesda of some knight's chaplainship. Milton.
2. The possession or revenue of a chapel. Johnson.
CHAPLESS
Chap"less, a.
Defn: Having no lower jaw; hence, fleshless. [R.] "Yellow, chapless skulls." Shak.
CHAPLET Chap"let, n. Etym: [F. chapelet, dim. of OF. chapel hat, garland, dim. fr. LL. cappa. See Cap, and cf. Chapelet, Chapeau.]
1. A garland or wreath to be worn on the head.
2. A string of beads, or part of a string, used by Roman Catholic in praying; a third of a rosary, or fifty beads. Her chaplet of beads and her missal. Longfellow.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A small molding, carved into beads, pearls, olives, etc.
4. (Man.)
Defn: A chapelet. See Chapelet, 1.
5. (Founding)
Defn: A bent piece of sheet iron, or a pin with thin plates on its ends, for holding a core in place in the mold.
6. A tuft of feathers on a peacock's head. Johnson.
CHAPLET
Chap"let, n.
Defn: A small chapel or shrine.
CHAPLET
Chap"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chapleted.]
Defn: To adorn with a chaplet or with flowers. R. Browning.
CHAPMAN Chap"man, n.; pl. Chapmen. Etym: [AS. ceápman; ceáp trade + man man; akin to D. koopman, Sw. köpman, Dan. kiöpmand, G. kaufmann.f. Chap to cheapen, and see Cheap.]
1. One who buys and sells; a merchant; a buyer or a seller. [Obs.] The word of life is a quick commodity, and ought not, as a drug to be obtruded on those chapmen who are unwilling to buy it. T. Fuller.
2. A peddler; a hawker.
CHAPPY
Chap"py,
Defn: Full of chaps; cleft; gaping; open.
CHAPS
Chaps, n. pl.
Defn: The jaws, or the fleshy parts about them. See Chap. "Open your chaps again." Shak.