Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 5 chastelyn, chastlayne, 56 chasteleyne, 7 chastellan, 89 -lain, 9 chastelain. See also CASTELLAN, CHATELAIN. [In ME. chasteleyn, a. OF. chastelain:L. castellān-us CASTELLAN.]
The governor or keeper of a castle; = CASTELLAN.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6330. Now am I knyght, now chasteleyne.
c. 1440. Generydes, 1520. Furth in his waye goth now the Chastelyn.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 463. The chasteleyne of Beauuays.
1614. Selden, Titles Hon., 249. In the Territorie of Cracow, the Chastellan is before the Palatin.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, X. 277. Chastellains.
1852. Miss Yonge, Cameos (1876), II. ii. 15. The chastelain offered to set his prisoner free.