chamberlain
[cheym-ber-lin]
- an official charged with the management of the living quarters of a sovereign or member of the nobility.
- an official who receives rents and revenues, as of a municipal corporation; treasurer.
- the high steward or factor of a member of the nobility.
- a high official of a royal court.
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Origin of chamberlain
Chamberlain
[cheym-ber-lin]
- (Arthur) Neville,1869–1940, British statesman: prime minister 1937–40.
- Joseph,1836–1914, British statesman (father of Sir Austen and Neville Chamberlain).
- Sir (Joseph) Austen,1863–1937, British statesman: Nobel Peace Prize 1925.
- Owen,1920–2006, U.S. physicist: Nobel Prize 1959.
- Wilt(on Norman)Wilt the Stilt, 1936–1999, U.S. basketball player.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chamberlain
Contemporary Examples
“DFA is not going to be working for them or trying to save them in their races,” Chamberlain said.
U.S. and Israeli hawks are rushing to call the interim nuclear agreement a capitulation and Obama another Chamberlain.
But what this show proves is that, even at his most automotive, Chamberlain achieved a surprising range of effects and meanings.
Conspirator: Lenin in Exile could have been the beginning of a great tragedy, says Chamberlain, if his cause had been a noble one.
Chamberlain, of course, chose Rome over the object of his heart's ache, forfeiting love and dying a broken man.
Historical Examples
Mr. Chamberlain, who had asked for these safeguards, did not accept them.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
In Mr. Chamberlain they had a popular champion of great ability and industry.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
Poor Balfour was awfully lonely after Chamberlain crocked up.
Changing WindsSt. John G. Ervine
Then he raised me to my feet, and at a touch from the Chamberlain, I backed out of the room.
The Woman Thou Gavest MeHall Caine
"Yes, your Holiness," said the chamberlain, coming up behind.
The Eternal CityHall Caine
chamberlain
- an officer who manages the household of a king
- the steward of a nobleman or landowner
- the treasurer of a municipal corporation
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French chamberlayn, of Frankish origin; related to Old High German chamarling chamberlain, Latin camera chamber
Chamberlain
- Sir (Joseph) Austen. 1863–1937, British Conservative statesman; foreign secretary (1924–29); awarded a Nobel peace prize for his negotiation of the Locarno Pact (1925)
- his father, Joseph. 1836–1914, British statesman; originally a Liberal, he resigned in 1886 over Home Rule for Ireland and became leader of the Liberal Unionists; a leading advocate of preferential trading agreements with members of the British Empire
- his son, (Arthur) Neville. 1869–1940, British Conservative statesman; prime minister (1937–40): pursued a policy of appeasement towards Germany; following the German invasion of Poland, he declared war on Germany on Sept 3, 1939
- Owen. 1920–2006, US physicist, who discovered the antiproton. Nobel prize for physics jointly with Emilio Segré 1959
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for chamberlain
n.
early 13c., from Old French chamberlenc "chamberlain, steward, treasurer" (Modern French chambellan), from a Germanic source (perhaps Frankish *kamerling; cf. Old High German chamarling, German Kämmerling), from Latin camera "chamber, room" (see camera) + Germanic diminutive suffix -ling.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper