Part 44

CHAFFINCH, chaf'insh, _n._ a little song-bird of the finch family. [Said to delight in _chaff_. See FINCH.]

CHAFFRON. See CHAMFRAIN.

CHAFT, chaft, _n._ (_Scot._ and _Northern English_) the jaw. [Ice. _kjaptr_; cf. Sw. _k[:a]ft_, Dan. _kieft_.]

CHAGAN, kag-[:a]n', _n._ an early form of KHAN.

CHAGRIN, sha-gr[=e]n', _n._ that which wears or gnaws the mind: vexation: annoyance.--_v.t._ to vex or annoy.--_p.adj._ CHAGRINED'. [Fr. _chagrin_, shagreen, rough skin, ill-humour.]

CHAIN, ch[=a]n, _n._ a series of links or rings passing through one another: a number of things coming after each other: anything that binds: a connected course or train of events: in surveying, often called Gunter's chain, a measure of 100 links, 66 feet long (10 sq. chains make an acre): (_pl._) fetters, bonds, confinement generally.--_v.t._ to fasten: to fetter: to restrain: (_Shak._) to embrace.--_ns._ CHAIN'-ARM'OUR, chain-mail; CHAIN'-BOLT, a large bolt used to secure the chain-plates to the ship's side; CHAIN'-BRIDGE, a bridge suspended on chains: a suspension-bridge; CHAIN'-C[=A]'BLE, a cable composed of iron links.--_p.adj._ CHAINED, bound or fastened, as with a chain: fitted with a chain.--_n._ CHAIN'-GANG, a gang of convicts chained together.--_adj._ CHAIN'LESS, without chains: [Illustration] unfettered.--_ns._ CHAIN'LET, a small chain; CHAIN'-MAIL, mail or armour made of iron links connected together, much used in Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries; CHAIN'-MOULD'ING, moulding in the form of a chain; CHAIN'-PIER, a pier supported by chains like a chain-bridge.--_n.pl._ CHAIN'-PLATES, on shipboard, iron plates bolted below the channels to serve as attachments for the dead-eyes, through which the standing rigging or shrouds and back-stays are rove and secured.--_ns._ CHAIN'-PUMP, a pump consisting of buckets or plates fastened to an endless iron chain, and used for raising water; CHAIN'-RULE, an arithmetical rule, so called from the terms of the problem being stated as equations, and connected, as if by a chain, so as to obtain by one operation the same result as would be obtained by a number of different operations in simple proportion: the rule for solving problems by compound proportion; CHAIN'-SHOT, two bullets or half-bullets fastened together by a chain, used formerly in naval engagements to destroy rigging, now replaced by case-shot and shrapnel-shell; CHAIN'-STITCH, a peculiar kind of stitch resembling the links of a chain; CHAIN'-WORK, work consisting of threads, cords, &c., wrought with open spaces like the links of a chain: network. [Fr. _chaine_--L. _cat[=e]na_.]

CHAIR, ch[=a]r, _n._ a movable seat for one, with a back to it: a covered vehicle for one person, as a sedan-chair: the seat or office of one in authority, as a judge, a bishop, or the person presiding over any meeting--hence 'to take the chair' = to assume the place of president; 'to address the chair' = to direct one's speech to the chairman; 'to support the chair' = to uphold the authority of the chairman--often, when endangered in a public meeting, asserted by cries of '_Chair!_': the seat from which a professor delivers his lectures, the office or function of a professor--'socialists of the chair' = mere doctrinaire or theoretical advocates of socialism: cast-iron supports for rails under the permanent way in a railway, held by wooden wedges, and spiked on to transverse wooden sleepers.--_v.t._ to place in a seat of authority: to carry publicly in triumph.--_n._ CHAIR'-BED, a kind of chair capable of being turned into a bed.--_n.pl._ CHAIR'-DAYS (_Shak._), used figuratively to denote the evening of life.--_ns._ CHAIR'MAN, the man who takes the chair, or presides at an assembly or meeting: one who carries a sedan or Bath chair; CHAIR'MANSHIP; CHAIR'-OR'GAN, a corruption of choir-organ (q.v.); CHAIR'WOMAN. [Fr. _chaire_--L.--Gr. _kathedra_.]

CHAISE, sh[=a]z, _n._ a light open carriage for one or more persons: a travelling carriage (see POST-CHAISE).--_adj._ CHAISE'LESS.--_n._ CHAISE-LONGUE, a couch. [Fr., a Parisian pronunciation of _chaire_. See CHAIR.]

CHAL, chal, _n._ fellow: person:--_fem._ CHAI. [Gipsy.]

CHALCEDONY, kal-sed'[=o]-ni, or kal'-, _n._ a beautiful mineral of the quartz family, consisting of quartz with some admixture of opal--it is generally translucent, has a somewhat waxy lustre, and is in colour generally white or bluish-white.--_adj._ CHALCEDON'IC.--_n._ CHALCED'ONYX, an agate formed of a white opaque chalcedony alternating with a grayish translucent chalcedony. [Prob. from _Chalcedon_, in Asia Minor.]

CHALCOGRAPHY, kal-kog'ra-fi, _n._ the art of engraving on copper or brass.--_ns._ CHALCOG'RAPHER, CHALCOG'RAPHIST. [Gr. _chalkos_, copper, _graphein_, to write.]

CHALDAIC, kal-d[=a]'ik, CHALDEE, kal'd[=e], _adj._ relating to _Chaldea_.--_n._ the language of the Chaldeans.--_n._ CHAL'D[=A]ISM, a Chaldaic idiom.--_adj._ CHALD[=E]'AN, Chaldaic.--_n._ a native of Chaldea.

CHALDER, chawl'd[.e]r, _n._ an old Scotch dry measure, containing 16 bolls. [Prob. a form of CHALDRON.]

CHALDRON, chawl'drun, _n._ an old coal-measure, holding 36 heaped bushels (= 25-1/2 cwt.). [Fr. _chaudron_. See CAULDRON.]

CHALET, sha-l[=a]', _n._ a summer hut used by Swiss herdsmen among the Alps: a urinal. [Fr.]

CHALICE, chal'is, _n._ a cup or bowl: a communion-cup.--_adj._ CHAL'ICED, cup-like. [Fr. _calice_--L. _calix_, _calicis_; Gr. _kylix_, a cup. CALYX is a different word, but from the same root.]

CHALK, chawk, _n._ the well-known white substance, a carbonate of lime.--_v.t._ to rub or manure with chalk.--_v.i._ to mark with chalk: in a tavern, to write the score with chalk.--_ns._ CHALK'INESS; CHALK'-PIT, a pit in which chalk is dug; CHALK'-STONE, a stone or piece of chalk: (_pl._) the white concretions formed round the joints in chronic gout.--_adj._ CHALK'Y.--CHALK FOR CHEESE, a small price for a good article.--CHALKING THE DOOR, in Scotland, a form of warning tenants to remove from burghal tenements.--CHALK OUT, to trace out, as with chalk, to plan.--BY A LONG CHALK, by a considerable distance, referring to the habit of scoring with chalk. [A.S. _cealc_, like Fr. _chaux_, is from L. _calx_, limestone.]

CHALLENGE, chal'enj, _v.t._ to call on one to settle a matter by fighting or by any kind of contest: to claim as one's own: to accuse; to object to.--_n._ a summons to a contest of any kind, but esp. a duel: a calling of any one or anything in question: exception to a juror: the demand of a sentry.--_adj._ CHALL'ENGEABLE, that may be challenged.--_n._ CHALL'ENGER, one who challenges to a combat of any kind: a claimant: one who objects, calls in question. [O. Fr. _chalenge_, a dispute, a claim--L. _calumnia_, a false accusation--_calvi_, _calv[)e]re_, to deceive.]

CHALLIS, shal'is, or shal'i, _n._ a fine fabric of silk and worsted used for ladies' dresses. [Fr.]

CHALUMEAU, shal-[=u]-m[=o]', _n._ a musical instrument: a shepherd's pipe. [Fr.,--O. Fr. _chalemel_--Low L. _calamellus_, dim. of _calamus_, a pipe, a reed.]

CHALYBEAN, ka-lib'[=e]-an, _adj._ (_Milton_) forged by the Chalybes: well tempered.--_adj._ CHALYB'E[=A]TE, containing iron.--_n._ a water or other liquor containing iron. [Gr. _chalyps_, _chalybos_, steel, so called from the _Chalybes_, a nation in Pontus famous for steel.]

CHALYBITE, kal'i-b[=i]t, _n._ native iron protocarbonate--siderite.

CHAM, kam, _n._ an obsolete form of KHAN.

CHAMADE, sham'ad, _n._ a signal inviting a parley. [Fr.]

CHAMBER, ch[=a]m'b[.e]r, _n._ an apartment: the place where an assembly meets: an assembly or body of men met for some purpose, as a chamber of commerce: a hall of justice: a compartment: a cavity: the back end of the bore of a gun.--_v.t._ to put in a chamber: to confine.--_v.i._ to be wanton.--_ns._ CHAM'BER-COUN'CIL (_Shak._), a private or secret council; CHAM'BER-COUN'SEL, -COUN'SELLOR, a counsel who gives his advice privately, but does not plead in court.--_adj._ CHAM'BERED.--_ns._ CHAM'BERER, a man of intrigue: (_Shak._) a gallant; CHAM'BER-FELL'OW, one occupying the same chamber.--_n.pl._ CHAM'BER-HANG'INGS (_Shak._), the hangings or tapestry of a chamber.--_ns._ CHAM'BERING (_B._), lewd behaviour; CHAM'BER-LYE (_Shak._), urine; CHAM'BER-MAID, a female servant who has the care of bedrooms; CHAM'BER-POT, a necessary bedroom vessel--often merely CHAM'BER; CHAM'BER-PRAC'TICE, the business of a chamber-counsellor (q.v.). [Fr. _chambre_--L. _camera_--Gr. _kamara_, a vault, a room.]

CHAMBERLAIN, ch[=a]m'b[.e]r-l[=a]n, or -lin, _n._ an officer appointed by a king or nobleman, or by a corporation, to perform domestic and ceremonial duties.--_n._ CHAM'BERLAINSHIP.--LORD CHAMBERLAIN, an officer of high standing in the royal household, having control over all the officers and servants 'above stairs,' except those of the bedchamber, over the establishment attached to the Chapel Royal, the physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries of the household; LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN, a hereditary officer who has the government of the palace of Westminster, and upon solemn occasions the keys of Westminster Hall and of the Court of Requests are delivered to him. [O. Fr. _chambrelenc_; Old Ger. _chamerling_--L. _camera_, a chamber, and affix _-ling_ or _-lenc_ = Eng. _-ling_ in _hireling_.]

CHAMBERTIN, shang'bert-ang, _n._ a famous red Burgundy from the vineyard of that name near Dijon, in France.

CHAMELEON, ka-m[=e]l'yun, _n._ a small lizard famous for changing its colour: (_fig._) an inconstant person.--_adjs._ CHAMEL'EONIC, CHAMEL'EON-LIKE. [L. _chamaeleon_--Gr. _chamaile[=o]n_--_chamai_ (= L. _humi_), on the ground, dwarf, and _le[=o]n_, a lion.]

CHAMELOT, kam'e-lot, _n._ (_Spens._). CAMLET.

CHAMFER, cham'f[.e]r, _n._ a bevel or slope made by paring off the edge of anything originally right-angled, either in wood or stone work: a groove, channel, or furrow.--_v.t._ to cut or grind off bevel-wise, as a corner: to channel or make furrows upon; to flute, as a column.--_adj._ CHAM'FERED, furrowed, grooved, wrinkled. [Fr. _chanfrein_--O. Fr. _chanfraindre_, which acc. to Dr Murray may be from _chant fraindre_--L. _cantum frang[)e]re_, to break the edge or side.]

CHAMFRAIN, cham'fren, _n._ a piece of leather or plate of steel to protect the face of a horse in battle.--Also CHAM'FRON, CHAF'FRON. [Fr. _chanfrein_; origin unknown.]

CHAMLET, kam'let, _n._ Same as CAMLET.

CHAMOIS, sha'moi, sham'i, or sham'waw, _n._ a goat-like species or genus of antelope inhabiting the Alps and other high mountains of southern and central Europe: a soft kind of leather originally made from its skin. [Fr.,--Teut.; cf. mod. Ger. _gemse_, a chamois.]

CHAMOMILE. See CAMOMILE.

CHAMP, champ, _v.i._ to make a snapping noise with the jaws in chewing.--_v.t._ to bite or chew: to crush: to mash.--_n._ champing.--_n._ CHAMP'ING, the action of the verb _champ_: mashing. [Older form _cham_, most prob. from Scand.]

CHAMPAC, cham'pak, _n._ an Indian tree of great beauty, much venerated by Brahminists and Buddhists.--Also CHAM'PAK. [Hind.]

CHAMPAGNE, sham-p[=a]n', _n._ a light sparkling wine from _Champagne_ in France. Still or non-effervescent champagne is also made.

CHAMPAIGN, sham-p[=a]n', _adj._ level, open.--_n._ an open, level country.--_n._ CHAMP (_her._), the field of a shield.--THE CHAMPAGNE, level land. [A doublet of CAMPAIGN, from O. Fr. _champaigne_--L. _campania_, a plain.]

CHAMPERTY, sham'p[.e]r-ti, _n._ an illegal bargain whereby the one party is to assist the other in recovering property, and is to share in the proceeds.--_n._ CHAM'PART, the division of the produce of land, the right of the feudal lord. [Norm. Fr.--L. _campi pars_, part of the field.]

CHAMPIGNON, sham-pin'yon, _n._ a mushroom, esp. the Fairy-ring Agaric. [Fr.]

CHAMPION, cham'pi-un, _n._ one who fights in single combat for himself or for another: one who defends a cause: a successful combatant: in boxing, running, &c., one who has excelled all others: a hero:--_fem._ CHAM'PIONESS.--_adj._ acting as champion, first: first-class.--_v.t._ (_obs._) to challenge: to defend: to support.--_n._ CHAM'PIONSHIP. [Fr.,--Low L. _campio_, _campion-em_--L. _campus_, a plain, a place for games.]

CHANCE, chans, _n._ that which falls out or happens: an unexpected event: risk: opportunity: possibility of something happening: probability: (_pl._) misfortunes.--_v.t._ to risk.--_v.i._ to happen.--_adj._ happening by chance.--_adv._ perchance.--_n._ CHANCE'-COM'ER, one who comes by chance or unexpectedly.--_adjs._ CHANCE'FUL (_Spens._), full of risk or danger, hazardous; CHANC'Y (_coll._), lucky, bringing good luck: also risky, uncertain.--BY CHANCE, accidentally; EVEN CHANCE, the probability being equally for or against.--HOW CHANCE? (_Shak._) how does it happen that?--STAND A GOOD CHANCE, to have a reasonable expectation; TAKE ONE'S CHANCE, to accept what happens: to risk an undertaking; THE MAIN CHANCE, the chief object (often used of matrimony): what is most important. [O. Fr. _cheance_--Low L. _cadentia_--L. _cad[)e]re_, to fall.]

CHANCEL, chan'sel, _n._ the eastern part of a church, originally separated from the nave by a screen of lattice-work, so as to prevent general access thereto, though not to interrupt either sight or sound. [O. Fr.,--L. _cancelli_, lattices.]

CHANCELLOR, chan'sel-or, _n._ (_Shak._) secretary: the president of a court of chancery or other court: the official who keeps the registers of an order of knighthood: the titular head of a university: (_Scot._) the foreman of a jury.--_ns._ CHAN'CELLORSHIP; CHAN'CELLORY.--CHANCELLOR OF A CATHEDRAL, an officer who formerly had charge of the chapter library, custody of the common seal, superintendence of the choir practices, and headship of the cathedral schools; CHANCELLOR OF A DIOCESE, an ecclesiastical judge uniting the functions of vicar-general and official principal, appointed to assist the bishop in questions of ecclesiastical law, and hold his courts for him; CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, the chief minister of finance in the British government; LORD CHANCELLOR, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR, the presiding judge of the Court of Chancery, the keeper of the great seal, and the first lay person of the state after the blood-royal. [Fr. _chancelier_--Low L. _cancellarius_, orig. an officer that had charge of records, and stood near the _cancelli_ (L.), the crossbars that surrounded the judgment-seat.]

CHANCE-MEDLEY, chans'-med-li, _n._ homicide justifiable because done in the hot blood caused by an unprovoked assault--the word has no reference to homicide by accident: inadvertency. [O. Fr. _chance medl['e]e_, mingled chance. 'From the fact that _medley_ is also a noun, and _chance-medley_ a possible combination in the sense of "fortuitous medley," the meaning has often been mistaken' (Dr Murray).]

CHANCERY, chan's[.e]r-i, _n._ formerly the highest court of justice next to the House of Lords, presided over by the Lord High Chancellor--now a division of the High Court of Justice: a court of record generally: (_slang_) the position of a boxer's head when under his adversary's arm: (_obs._) the office of a chancellor or ambassador.--CHANCERY OFFICE, in Scotland, an office in the General Register House at Edinburgh, managed by a director, in which all royal charters of novodamus, patents of dignities, gifts of offices, remissions, legitimations, presentations, commissions, and other writs appointed to pass the Great and Quarter Seals are recorded.--IN CHANCERY, in litigation, as an estate: (_slang_) in an awkward predicament. [Fr. _chancellerie_.]

CHANCRE, shang'k[.e]r, _n._ an ulcer arising from the direct application of syphilitic poison.--_adjs._ CHAN'CROID, CHAN'CROUS. [Fr.; a form of CANKER.]

CHANDELIER, shan-de-l[=e]r', _n._ a frame with branches for holding lights.--_ns._ CHAND'LER, originally a candle maker and dealer: a dealer generally; CHAND'LERING.--_adv._ CHAND'LERLY.--_ns._ CHAND'LERY, goods sold by a chandler; SHIP'-CHAND'LER, dealer in general stores for ships. [Fr.,--Low L. _candelaria_, a candlestick--L. _cand[=e]la_, a candle.]

CHANGE, ch[=a]nj, _v.t._ to alter or make different: to put or give for another: to make to pass from one state to another: to exchange.--_v.i._ to suffer change: to change one's clothes.--_n._ the act of changing: alteration or variation of any kind: (_Shak._) exchange: (_Shak._) fickleness: a shift: variety: small coin: also used as a short term for the Exchange.--_ns._ CHANGEABIL'ITY, CHANGE'ABLENESS, fickleness: power of being changed.--_adj._ CHANGE'ABLE, subject or prone to change: fickle: inconstant.--_adv._ CHANGE'ABLY.--_adj._ CHANGE'FUL, full of change: changeable.--_adv._ CHANGE'FULLY.--_ns._ CHANGE'FULNESS; CHANGE'-HOUSE (_Scot._), a small inn or alehouse.--_adj._ CHANGE'LESS, without change: constant.--_ns._ CHANGE'LING, a child taken or left by the fairies in place of another--usually an under-sized, crabbed child: one apt to change; CHANG'ER, one who changes the form of anything: one employed in changing or discounting money; CHANG'ING-PIECE (_Shak._), a fickle person.--CHANGE COLOUR, to blush or turn pale; CHANGE ONE'S MIND, to form a different opinion; CHANGE ONE'S SELF, to change one's clothes; CHANGE ONE'S TUNE, to change from joy to sorrow: to change one's manner of speaking.--PUT THE CHANGE ON, to delude, trick.--RING THE CHANGES, to go through the various changes in ringing a peal of bells: to go over in every possible order: to pass counterfeit money: to bemuddle a shopman into giving too much change. [Fr. _changer_--Late L. _cambi[=a]re_--L. _camb[=i]re_, to barter.]

CHANK, changk, CHANK-SHELL, changk'-shel, _n._ the popular name of the shell of several species of Turbinella, a genus of Gasteropod molluscs, natives of the East Indian seas, used as ornaments by Hindu women. [Hind. _cantch_.]

CHANNEL, chan'el, _n._ the bed of a stream of water: the deeper part of a strait, bay, or harbour: a strait or narrow sea: a groove or furrow: means of passing or conveying: (_Scot._) gravel.--_v.t._ to make a channel: to furrow: to convey.--_p.adj._ CHANN'ELLED.--THE CHANNEL, the English Channel. [O. Fr. _chanel_, _canel_--L. _canalis_, a canal.]

CHANNEL, chan'el, _n._ a flat piece of wood or iron projecting horizontally from a ship's side to spread the shrouds and keep them clear of the bulwarks--_fore_, _main_, and _mizzen channels_. [Corr. of _Chain-wale_. Cf. GUNNEL.]

CHANSON, shan'son, _n._ a song.--_n._ CHAN'SONETTE. [Fr.]

CHANT, chant, _v.t._ to sing: to celebrate in song: to recite in a singing manner: to sell horses fraudulently.--_n._ song: melody: a kind of sacred music, in which prose is sung.--_ns._ CHANT'ER, CHANT'OR, a singer: a precentor: in a bagpipe, the pipe with finger-holes, on which the melody is played: one who cries up horses; CHANT'RESS; CHANT'RY, an endowment, or chapel, for the chanting of masses; CHANT'Y, a sailor's song, usually with a drawling refrain, sung in concert while raising the anchor, &c. [Fr. _chanter_--L. _cant[=a]re_, _can[)e]re_, to sing.]

CHANTAGE, shan-t[:a]j', chant'[=a]j, _n._ extortion of money by threats of scandalous revelations. [Fr.]

CHANTERELLE, shan-ter-el', _n._ the highest string of the violin, &c.: a yellowish edible mushroom. [Fr.]

CHANTICLEER, chant'i-kl[=e]r, _n._ a cock. [From the name of the cock in the old beast-epic of Reynard the Fox.] [O. Fr. _chanter_, to sing, _cler_, clear.]

CHAOS, k[=a]'os, _n._ shapeless mass: disorder: the state of matter before it was reduced to order by the Creator.--_adj._ CHAOT'IC, confused.--_adv._ CHAOT'ICALLY. [Gr.]

CHAP, chap, _v.i._ to crack: to strike, of a clock, &c.: to knock at a door.--_v.t._ to fissure.--_n._ crack: an open fissure in the skin, caused by exposure to frost: a knock.--_adj._ CHAP'LESS.--_p.adj._ CHAPPED, cracked, of a heavy soil in dry weather, or of the skin in frost: cut short.--_adj._ CHAP'PY. [M. E. _chappen_; cog. with Dut. and Ger. _kappen_.]

CHAP, chap, _n._ a fellow, originally a customer, from CHAPMAN.--_n._ CHAP'PIE, a familiar diminutive.

CHAP, chap, _n._ generally _pl._ the jaws.--_adj._ CHAP'FALL'EN, a variant of Chop-fallen (q.v.). [Northern Eng. and Scot. _chafts_--Scand., as Ice. _kjaptr_, the jaw.]

CHAPARRAL, chap-a-ral', _n._ dense tangled brushwood. [Sp., prob. Basque _achaparra_.]

CHAP-BOOK. See CHAPMAN.

CHAPE, ch[=a]p, _n._ the plate of metal at the point of a scabbard: the catch or hook by which the sheath of a weapon was attached to the belt.--_adj._ CHAPE'LESS. [Fr.,--Low L. _capa_, a cap.]

CHAPEAU, sha-p[=o]', _n._ a hat. [Fr.]

CHAPEL, chap'el, _n._ a place of worship inferior or subordinate to a regular church, or attached to a palace, garrison, prison, school, college, &c.: an oratory in a mausoleum, &c., or a cell of a church containing its own altar: a dissenters' place of worship, as of Nonconformists in England, Roman Catholics or Episcopalians in Scotland, &c.: a chapel service--hence 'to keep one's chapels'--to make the requisite number of attendances at such: an association of workmen in a printing-office.--_n._ CHAP'ELRY, the jurisdiction of a chapel.--CHAPEL CART (see CART).--CHAPEL OF EASE, a chapel for worshippers far from the parish church; CHAPEL ROYAL, the oratory of a royal palace; LADY CHAPEL, such a chapel dedicated to the Virgin; PROPRIETARY CHAPEL, one that is the property of a private person or persons. [O. Fr. _capele_--Low L. _cappella_, dim. of _cappa_, a cloak or cope; orig. from the cloak of St Martin.]

CHAPERON, shap'e-r[=o]n, _n._ a kind of hood or cap: one who attends a lady in public places as a protector.--_v.t._ to attend a lady to public places.--_n._ CHAP'ERONAGE. [Fr., a large hood--_chape_, a hooded cloak--Low L. _cappa_. See CAPE.]

CHAPITER, chap'i-t[.e]r, _n._ the head or capital of a column. [Fr. _chapitel_--Low L. _capitellum_, dim. of L. _caput_, the head.]

CHAPLAIN, chap'l[=a]n, or chap'lin, _n._ a clergyman attached to a ship of war, a regiment, a public institution, or private family.--_ns._ CHAP'LAINCY, CHAP'LAINRY, CHAP'LAINSHIP. [O. Fr. _chapelain_--Low L. _capellanus_--_capella_. See CHAPEL.]

CHAPLET, chap'let, _n._ a garland or wreath for the head: a circlet of gold, &c.: a string of beads used in counting prayers, one-third of a rosary in length: anything in a string: a metal support of a cylindrical pipe.--_adj._ CHAP'LETED. [O. Fr. _chapelet_--_chape_, a head-dress.]

CHAPMAN, chap'man, _n._ one who buys or sells: an itinerant dealer, a pedlar: (_obs._) a purchaser.--_n._ CHAP'-BOOK, a name given to the books which were formerly sold by chapmen. [A.S. _c['e]ap-man_--_c['e]ap_, trade, and _mann_, man; cf. Ger. _kaufmann_, and see CHEAP.]

CHAPTER, chap't[.e]r, _n._ a main division of a book, or of anything: a subject or category generally: an assembly of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church, or the members of a religious or military order: an organised branch of some society or fraternity.--_v.t._ to put into chapters: to take to task.--_n._ CHAP'TER-HOUSE.--CHAPTER-AND-VERSE, the exact reference to the passage of the authority for one's statements.--THE CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS, the catalogue of unforeseen events.--TO THE END OF THE CHAPTER, throughout the whole subject. [O. Fr. _chapitre_--L. _capitulum_, dim. of _caput_, the head. From the practice of reading to the assembled canons or monks a _capitulum_ or chapter of their rule, or of the Scriptures, the men themselves came to be called in a body the _capitulum_ or chapter, and their meeting-place the chapter-house.]

CHAPTREL, chap'trel, _n._ the capital of a pillar which supports an arch. [Dim. of CHAPITER.]

CHAR, ch[:a]r, _n._ a small fish of the salmon kind, found in mountain lakes and rivers. [Prob. Celt.; cf. Gael, _ceara_, red, blood-coloured.]

CHAR, ch[:a]r, _v.t._ to roast or burn until reduced to carbon or coal, to scorch:--_pr.p._ char'ring; _pa.p._ charred.--_adj._ CHAR'RY, pertaining to charcoal. [Prob. formed from _char_-coal.]

CHAR. See CHARE.

CHAR-[`A]-BANC, shar'-a-bang, _n._ a long light vehicle with transverse seats. [Fr.]

CHARACTER, kar'ak-t[.e]r, _n._ a letter, sign, figure, stamp, or distinctive mark: a mark of any kind, a symbol in writing, &c.: writing generally, handwriting: a secret cipher: any essential feature or peculiarity: nature: (_obs._) personal appearance: the aggregate of peculiar qualities which constitutes personal or national individuality: moral qualities especially, the reputation of possessing such: a formal statement of the qualities of a person who has been in one's service or employment: official position, rank, or status, or a person who has filled such: a person noted for eccentricity: a personality as created in a play or novel (_Shak._ CHAR'ACT).--_v.t._ to engrave, imprint, write: to represent, delineate, or describe.--_n._ CHARACTERIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ CHAR'ACTERISE, to describe by peculiar qualities: to distinguish or designate.--_ns._ CHAR'ACTERISM; CHARACTERIS'TIC, that which marks or constitutes the character.--_adjs._ CHARACTERIS'TIC, -AL, marking or constituting the peculiar nature.--_adv._ CHARACTERIS'TICALLY.--_adj._ CHAR'ACTERLESS, without character or distinctive qualities.--_ns._ CHAR'ACTERLESSNESS; CHAR'ACTERY, writing: impression: that which is charactered.--IN CHARACTER, in harmony with the part assumed, appropriate, as a CHARACTER ACTOR, one who tries to represent eccentricities. [Fr. _caract[`e]re_--L. _character_--Gr. _charakt[=e]r_, from _charass-ein_, to cut, engrave.]

CHARADE, shar-[:a]d', _n._ a species of riddle, the subject of which is a word proposed for solution from an enigmatical description of its component syllables and of the whole--the charade is often acted. [Fr.; ety. dub. Littr['e] gives Prov. _charrada_, chatter; Prof. Skeat quotes Sp. _charrada_, the speech of a clown.]

CHARCOAL, ch[:a]r'k[=o]l, _n._ charred wood or coal made by charring wood; the carbonaceous residue of vegetable, animal, or mineral substances when they have undergone smothered combustion. [The first element of the word is of doubtful origin.]

CHARE, ch[=a]r, CHAR, ch[:a]r, _n._ an occasional piece of work, an odd job: (_pl._) household work--in America usually CHORE.--_v.i._ to do odd jobs of work: to do house-cleaning.--_n._ CHAR'WOMAN, a woman hired by the day to do odd jobs of domestic work. [A.S. _cerran_, _cierran_, to turn.]

CHARET, ch[:a]r'et, _n._ (_Spens._) same as CHARIOT.