seneschal
[sen-uh-shuh l]
- an officer having full charge of domestic arrangements, ceremonies, the administration of justice, etc., in the household of a medieval prince or dignitary; steward.
Show More
Origin of seneschal
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Frankish; compare Medieval Latin seniscalcus senior servant, cognate with Old High German senescalh (sene- old, senior + scalh servant)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for seneschal
Historical Examples
"He shall have four silver candlesticks," said the seneschal moodily.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
The castle is taken and on fire, the seneschal is slain, and there is nought left for us.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
"It is the Seneschal of Toulouse, with his following," said Johnston, shading his eyes with his hand.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
It was from the seneschal of the Palace that I first heard that tragic news.
The Shame of MotleyRaphael Sabatini
It was the face of Mariani, the seneschal of the Castle of Cessna.
The Shame of MotleyRaphael Sabatini
seneschal
- a steward of the household of a medieval prince or nobleman who took charge of domestic arrangements, etc
- British a cathedral official
Show More
Word Origin
C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin siniscalcus, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German senescalh oldest servant, from sene- old + scalh a servant
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 seneschal
n.
late 14c., "steward, majordomo, officer in a royal household in charge of ceremonies and feasts," from Old French seneschal, title of a high administrative court officer, from Frankish Latin siniscalcus, from Proto-Germanic *sini-skalk "senior servant;" first element cognate with Latin senex "old" (see senile); second element from Proto-Germanic *skalkoz "servant" (cf. Gothic skalks, Old High German scalc, Old English scealc "servant;" see second element of marshal).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper