| Chamber | n. [ F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in LL. chamber, fr. Gr. &unr_; anything with a vaulted roof or arched covering; cf. Skr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera, Comrade. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. pl. Apartments in a lodging house. “A bachelor's life in chambers.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eye. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. pl. (Law.) A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done out of court. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. A chamber pot. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 8. (Mil.) (a) That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; -- formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns. (b) A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the powder. (c) A short piece of ordnance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades. [ 1913 Webster ]
Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the Vocabulary. --
Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and traders of a city. --
Chamber council, a secret council. Shak. --
Chamber counsel or
Chamber counselor, a counselor who gives his opinion in private, or at his chambers, but does not advocate causes in court. --
Chamber fellow, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum. --
Chamber hangings, tapestry or hangings for a chamber. --
Chamber lye, urine. Shak. --
Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or church. --
Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in court. --
To sit at chambers, to do business in chambers, as a judge. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Chamberlain | n. [ OF. chamberlain, chambrelencF. chambellon, OHG. chamerling, chamarlinc, G. kämmerling, kammer chamber (fr. L. camera) + -ling. See Chamber, and -ling. ] [ Formerly written chamberlin. ] 1. An officer or servant who has charge of a chamber or chambers. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. An upper servant of an inn. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 3. An officer having the direction and management of the private chambers of a nobleman or monarch; hence, in Europe, one of the high officers of a court. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A treasurer or receiver of public money; as, the chamberlain of London, of North Wales, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
The lord chamberlain of England, an officer of the crown, who waits upon the sovereign on the day of coronation, and provides requisites for the palace of Westminster, and for the House of Lords during the session of Parliament. Under him are the gentleman of the black rod and other officers. His office is distinct from that of the lord chamberlain of the Household, whose functions relate to the royal housekeeping. [ 1913 Webster ]
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