Part 186

&fist; The distinctive, French term for a fortified castle of the middle ages is chÔteau-fort.

||Chateau en Espagne (&?;) [F.], a castle in Spain, that is, a castle in the air, Spain being the region of romance.

Chat"e*laine (?), n. [F. chÔtelaine the wife of a castellan, the mistress of a chateau, a chatelaine chain.] An ornamental hook, or brooch worn by a lady at her waist, and having a short chain or chains attached for a watch, keys, trinkets, etc. Also used adjectively; as, a chatelaine chain.

Chat"e*let (?), n. [F. chÔtelet, dim. of chÔteau. See Castle.] A little castle.

Chat"el*la*ny (?), n. [F. chÔtellenie.] Same as Castellany.

||Cha`ti" (?), n. [Cf. F. chat cat.] (Zo÷l.) A small South American species of tiger cat (Felis mitis).

Cha*toy"ant (?), a. [F., p. pr. of chatoyer to be chatoyant, fr. chat cat.] (Min.) Having a changeable, varying luster, or color, like that of a changeable silk, or oa a cat's eye in the dark.

Cha*toy"ant, n. (Min.) A hard stone, as the cat's-eye, which presents on a polished surface, and in the interior, an undulating or wary light.

Cha*toy"ment (?), n. [F. chatoiement. See Chatoyant.] Changeableness of color, as in a mineral; play of colors. Cleaceland.

Chat"tel (?), n. [OF. chatel; another form of catel. See Cattle.] (Law) Any item of movable or immovable property except the freehold, or the things which are parcel of it. It is a more extensive term than goods or effects.

&fist; Chattels are personal or real: personal are such as are movable, as goods, plate, money; real are such rights in land as are less than a freehold, as leases, mortgages, growing corn, etc.

Chattel mortgage (Law), a mortgage on personal property, as distinguished from one on real property.

Chat"tel*ism (?), n. The act or condition of holding chattels; the state of being a chattel.

Chat"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chattering.] [Of imitative origin. Cf. Chat, v. i. Chitter.] 1. To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are inarticulate and indistinct.

The jaw makes answer, as the magpie chatters. Wordsworth.

2. To talk idly, carelessly, or with undue rapidity; to jabber; to prate.

To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue. Shak.

3. To make a noise by rapid collisions.

With chattering teeth, and bristling hair upright. Dryden.

Chat"ter, v. t. To utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly.

Begin his witless note apace to chatter. Spenser.

Chat"ter, n. 1. Sounds like those of a magpie or monkey; idle talk; rapid, thoughtless talk; jabber; prattle.

Your words are but idle and empty chatter. Longfellow.

2. Noise made by collision of the teeth, as in shivering.

Chat*ter*a"tion (?), n. The act or habit of chattering. [Colloq.]

Chat"ter*er (?), n. 1. A prater; an idle talker.

2. (Zo÷l.) A bird of the family AmpelidŠ -- so called from its monotonous note. The Bohemion chatterer (Ampelis garrulus) inhabits the arctic regions of both continents. In America the cedar bird is a more common species. See Bohemian chatterer, and Cedar bird.

Chat"ter*ing (?), n. The act or habit of talking idly or rapidly, or of making inarticulate sounds; the sounds so made; noise made by the collision of the teeth; chatter.