chaplain
(ˈtʃæplɪn)
Forms: 1 capellan, 2 capelein, 3–5 chapeleyn(e, 4–5 -layn, -lleyn(e, 4–6 chapleyn(e, 4–7 -layn(e, 5 chapyllayne, chapelen, 5–6 chappelayn(e, 6 chapelyn, chapline, 6–7 chappellane, chapplein, chaplin, -lein(e, -laine, 7 -lan, -len, 7– chaplain.
[a. OF. chapelain (in ONF. capelain, Pr. capellan It. cappellano):—late L. cappellān-us, f. cappella chapel: see -an. The earliest Eng. examples were directly from L. or ONF.: see sense 2.
The original cappellani were those who had charge of the sacred cloak of St. Martin: ‘custodes illius capæ usque hodie Capellani appellantur’; Honorius in Du Cange.]
1. gen. The priest, clergyman or minister of a chapel; in ME. a chantry priest.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 930 Chaplaynez to þe chapeles chosen þe gate. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. ii. 187 Meny chapelayns aren chast ac charite hem faileþ. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 69 Chapeleyne, capellanus. 1601 F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edw. II, §18 (1876) 14 A Chief Chaplin, or deane of the Chappel. 1602 W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. 71 A man seised in fee of landes deuisable, did deuise them to one for terme of his life, and that he should be a Chapplein, and that he should chaunt for his soule all his life time. 1641 Termes de la Ley 53 Chaplein is he that performeth divine Service in a Chappell. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iv. xxvi, He shall dwell In Augustin the chaplain's cell. 1828 J. Hunter S. Yorkshire I. 73 The Vicar of Blythe was bound to find a chaplain to celebrate in the chapel of Bawtry. |
2. spec. A clergyman who conducts religious service in the private chapel of a sovereign, lord, or high offical, of a castle, garrison, embassy, college, school, workhouse, prison, cemetery, or other institution, or in the household of a person of rank or quality, in a legislative chamber, regiment, ship, etc.
Thirty-six clergymen of the Church of England, and six of the Church of Scotland have the office and title of Chaplain in Ordinary to her (or his) Majesty; there are also several Honorary Chaplains; and among other official positions are those of Chaplain to the Forces, Chaplain of the Fleet, Army Chaplains, Navy Chaplains, etc., etc.
| a 1100 O.E. Chron. an. 1099 Se cyng Will'm..Rannulfe his capellane þæt biscoprice on Dunholme geaf. a 1123 Ibid. an. 1114 Se wæs æror þæs cynges capelein. c 1300 Beket 961 Thi Chapeleyn make thu me. 138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 511 Some chapeleyns of houshold, summe chapeleyns of honour. 1480 Caxton Descr. Brit. 26 The bisshop of Rochestre is tharchebisshops chapelayn of Caunterbury. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iii. 29 The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iii. xv. (1651) 131 A trencher chaplain in Gentlemans house. 1649 Milton Eikon. Wks. 1738 I. 427 Bishops or Presbyters we know, and Deacons we know, but what are Chaplains? 1727 Swift What passed in Lond. Wks. 1755 III. i. 186 The chaplains of the several regiments. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 217 Chaplains to the Forces receive the Pay and Allowances of Majors in the Army. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Relig. Wks. (Bohn) II. 99 Wellington esteems a saint only as far as he can be an army chaplain. 1883 Lloyd Ebb & Fl. II. 150 As to that cemetery chaplain. 1884 Crockford's Cler. Directory 399 Examining Chaplain to Abp. of York. |
b. A nun who recites the inferior services in the chapel of a nunnery. [Littré makes the F. chapelaine an ancient title of dignity in a nunnery.]
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 164 Another Nonne also with hire hadde sche, That was hire chapelleyn. 1884 Private letter from Montreal, In the convents of Canada the domestic Chaplain is frequently, if not always, a woman. |
c. transf.
| 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 17 marg. note, The deuiles chaplins. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 662 At Listra Jupiters Chaplaines wold have sacrificed unto them. 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 362 What shall I say? What? as Ahabs chaplaines, ‘Go, and prosper!’ |
d. attrib.
| a 1628 F. Greville Sidney (1652) 29 To haue changed their Princely Soueraignties into such a kind of low, and Chaplaine tenure. |
3. Chaplains of the Pope: auditors or judges of causes in the sacred palace.
| 1638 Penit. Conf. vii. (1657) 131 There was a Pope..that committed to a Chaplain of his own, Apostolical power to absolve with plenary authority. |