n. [ OF. seneschal, LL. seniscalcus, of Teutonic origin; cf. Goth. sineigs old, skalks, OHG. scalch, AS. scealc. Cf. Senior, Marshal. ] An officer in the houses of princes and dignitaries, in the Middle Ages, who had the superintendence of feasts and domestic ceremonies; a steward. Sometimes the seneschal had the dispensing of justice, and was given high military commands. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then marshaled feast
Served up in hall with sewers and seneschale. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Philip Augustus, by a famous ordinance in 1190, first established royal courts of justice, held by the officers called baitiffs, or seneschals, who acted as the king's lieutenants in his demains. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office, dignity, or jurisdiction of a seneschal. [ 1913 Webster ]