Obs. (exc. in comb.). [OE. ceaster:—*ceæster:—*cæster:—prehist. OE. *cæstra (5–6th c.) fem., a. L. castra pl. neuter, ‘camp,’ often applied to places in Britain that had been originally Roman encampments. (For the phonology, cf. Sievers, Ags. Gram., 1886, § 75. 1.) This is one of the best ascertained of the Latin words adopted by the Angles and Saxons during the conquest of Britain. Still existing as the proper name, or part of the name, of many places. In Cumberland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and some counties south of these, it appears as -caster, without palatalization. The history of the form written -cester, of which only -ster is pronounced (in Worcester, Bicester, etc.), is obscure; the written form is perhaps of Fr. or med.L. origin.]
A city or walled town; orig. one that had been a Roman station in Britain.
a. 855. O. E. Chron., an. 491. Ælla and Cissa ymbsæton ceaster.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. ii. 23. He com … & eardode on þære ceastre.
c. 1160. Hatton G., ibid. On þare chestre.
c. 1200. Ormin, 8439. Þatt chesstre þatt te Laferrd Crist Comm till.
[1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 377. Chester, denoted a walled or fortified place, being the same both in woorde and weight that the Latine (Castrum) is.]
1881. Freeman, Subj. Lands Venice, 146. It was a chester ready made, with its four streets, its four gates.
