chambered, ppl. a.
(ˈtʃeɪmbəd)
[f. chamber n. and v. + -ed.]
1. Furnished with a chamber or chambers. In Archæol., applied to a tomb containing a chamber or vault for the deposition of the dead. Also in comb., as many-chambered, six-chambered. chambered shell: see quot. 1847.
| 1382 Wyclif Gen. vi. 16 Sowpyng placis, and thre chaumbred thou shalt make in it. 1483 Caxton Descr. Brit. 16 A thre chambred hous made of vawte stones. 1611 Florio s.v. Agucchia, To finde the thicknes of chambred peeces of the breach. 1845–6 Trench Huls. Lect. i. iii. 55 This many-chambered palace of the Truth. 1847 Ansted Anc. World viii. 140 As the [Nautilus] grows in size, it from time to time builds off a cup-shaped wall upon the soft rounded surface of the hinder part of the body, leaving as it goes a space behind it, which is occupied only by air or some gaseous substance, and acts as a float. Proceeding in this way, and building a succession of these walls, there is ultimately formed what is called a chambered shell. 1858 Greener Gunnery 118 Although not a chambered gun, it will be seen..to be an attempt to obtain uniformity of thickness in every part of the arc. 1865 J. Lubbock Prehist. Times iv. 91 The comparative rarity of chambered tumuli in western Europe. 1869 Archæologia XLII. 233 The surprising similarity between the winter huts of the Esquimaux and the chambered tumuli of Sweden and Denmark. 1882 St. James's Gaz. 25 Feb. 11 A six-chambered revolver. 1952 Childe & Simpson Anc. Monum. Scotl. 15 Chambered cairns were used for burials over several generations. |
2. Shut up in a chamber.
| a 1529 Skelton Image Hypocr. i. 413 Your closse-chambered drabbes. 1710 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. 218 If they lay resty and out of their Game, chamber'd, and idle. |
3. Having a cavity or hollow underneath.
| 1683 Lond. Gaz. No. 1810/4 A Sandy grey Gelding..a black Leather Saddle..Chambered for his Back. 1710 Ibid. No. 4746/4 A red Saddle with 4 Brass Nails, and Chamber'd just by the Chine Bone of the off Side. |
† 4. = cambered; bent like a bow, arched. Obs.
| [1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 353 Þey [the Irish] dryueþ hir hors wiþ a chambre ȝerde in þe ouer ende (virgam in superiori parte cameratam).] 1480 Caxton Descr. Brit. 51 They driue their horses with a chambred yerd in the ouer ende in stede of bittes. 1616 Lane Sq. Tale ix. 67 Well plantes the gapps with chambred iron slinges. |