Forms: 1 capellan, 2 capelein, 3–5 chapeleyn(e, 4–5 -layn, -lleyn(e, 4–6 chapleyn(e, 4–7 -layn(e, 5 chapyllayne, chapelen, 5–6 chappelayn(e, 6 chapelyn, chapline, 6–7 chappellane, chapplein, chaplin, -lein(e, -laine, 7 -lan, -len, 7– chaplain. [a. OF. chapelain (in ONF. capelain, Pr. capellan, It. cappellano):—late L. cappellān-us, f. cappella CHAPEL: see -AN. The earliest Eng. examples were directly from L. or ONF.: see sense 2.
The original cappellani were those who had charge of the sacred cloak of St. Martin: ‘custodes illius capæ usque hodie Capellani appellantur’; Honorius in Du Cange.]
1. gen. The priest, clergyman or minister of a CHAPEL; in ME. a chantry priest.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 930. Chaplaynez to þe chapeles chosen þe gate.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 187. Meny chapelayns aren chast ac charite hem faileþ.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 69. Chapeleyne, capellanus.
1601. F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II., § 18 (1876), 14. A Chief Chaplin, or deane of the Chappel.
1602. Fulbecke, 2nd Pt. Parall., 71. A man seised in fee of landes deuisable, did deuise them to one for terme of his life, and that he should be a Chapplein, and that he should chaunt for his soule all his life time.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 53. Chaplein is he that performeth divine Service in a Chappell.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, IV. xxvi. He shall dwell In Augustin the chaplain’s cell.
1828. J. Hunter, S. Yorkshire, I. 73. The Vicar of Blythe was bound to find a chaplain to celebrate in the chapel of Bawtry.
2. spec. A clergyman who conducts religious service in the private chapel of a sovereign, lord, or high official, of a castle, garrison, embassy, college, school, workhouse, prison, cemetery, or other institution, or in the household of a person of rank or quality, in a legislative chamber, regiment, ship, etc.
Thirty-six clergymen of the Church of England, and six of the Church of Scotland have the office and title of Chaplain in Ordinary to her (or his) Majesty; there are also several Honorary Chaplains; and among other official positions are those of Chaplain to the Forces, Chaplain of the Fleet, Army Chaplains, Navy Chaplains, etc., etc.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron., an. 1099. Se cyng Will’m Rannulfe his capellane þæt biscoprice on Dunholme geaf. Ibid. (a. 1123), an. 1114. Se wæs æror þæs cynges capelein.
c. 1300. Beket, 961. Thi Chapeleyn make thu me.
138[?]. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 511. Some chapeleyns of houshold, summe chapeleyns of honour.
1480. Caxton, Descr. Brit., 26. The bisshop of Rochestre is tharchebisshops chapelayn of Caunterbury.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iii. 29. The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel. I. ii. III. xv. (1651), 131. A trencher chaplain in Gentlemans house.
1649. Milton, Eikon., Wks. 1738, I. 427. Bishops or Presbyters we know, and Deacons we know, but what are Chaplains?
1727. Swift, What passed in Lond., Wks. 1755, III. I. 186. The chaplains of the several regiments.
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 217. Chaplains to the Forces receive the Pay and Allowances of Majors in the Army.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Relig., Wks. (Bohn), II. 99. Wellington esteems a saint only as far as he can be an army chaplain.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 150. As to that cemetery chaplain and his reading!
1884. Crockford’s Cler. Directory, 399. Examining Chaplain to Abp. of York.
b. A nun who recites the inferior services in the chapel of a nunnery. [Littré makes the F. chapelaine an ancient title of dignity in a nunnery.]
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 164. Anothur Nonne also with hire hadde sche, That was hire chapelleyn.
1884. Private letter from Montreal, In the convents of Canada the domestic Chaplain is frequently, if not always, a woman.
c. transf.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 17, marg. note. The deuiles chaplins.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 662. At Listra Jupiters Chaplaines wold have sacrificed unto them.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 362. What shall I say? What? as Ahabs chaplaines, ‘Go, and prosper!’
d. attrib.
a. 1628. F. Greville, Sidney (1652), 29. To haue changed their Princely Soueraignties into such a kind of low, and Chaplaine tenure.
3. Chaplains of the Pope: auditors or judges of causes in the sacred palace.
1638. Penit. Conf., vii. (1657), 131. There was a Pope … that committed to a Chaplain of his own, Apostolical power to absolve with plenary authority.
