Chain, chān, 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′-cā′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:
Chair, chār, 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, shāz, 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′ō-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-dā′ik, Chaldee, kal′dē, adj. relating to Chaldea.—n. the language of the Chaldeans.—n. Chal′dāism, a Chaldaic idiom.—adj. Chaldē′an, Chaldaic.—n. a native of Chaldea.
Chalder, chawl′dėr, 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 (= 25½ cwt.). [Fr. chaudron. See Cauldron.]