Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The master of a castle; a castellan.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A castellan.
  • noun In France, formerly, a territorial lord who had the right of possessing a castle.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun castle-keeper, castellan

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English chatelein, from Old French chastelain, from Latin castellānus, from castellum, castle; see castle.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French châtelain, itself from château ("castle")

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Examples

  • Fortunately the maid-servant of an old man who lodged under me was waked by the noise, and got up and ran to call the chatelain, whose house was next to mine.

    The Confessions of J J Rousseau Rousseau, Jean Jacques 1896

  • Fortunately the maid-servant of an old man who lodged under me was waked by the noise, and got up and ran to call the chatelain, whose house was next to mine.

    The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1782

  • Fortunately the maid-servant of an old man who lodged under me was waked by the noise, and got up and ran to call the chatelain, whose house was next to mine.

    The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau — Complete Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1745

  • Fortunately the maid-servant of an old man who lodged under me was waked by the noise, and got up and ran to call the chatelain, whose house was next to mine.

    The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau — Volume 12 Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1745

  • Most Americans are sheep, I would state that 85% are, and who in GODS name wants to be a sheep!? wymer chatelain

    Poll: Bush most unpopular in modern history 2008

  • A Princely Collection in Prague The story seems almost a fairy tale -- that someone who grew up in America, spoke only what he calls "survival Czech" at home, and was working in Boston real estate should become an acknowledged Czech prince and chatelain of one of Europe's most glorious private art collections.

    Twice Stolen, Now Returned: 2008

  • He was there more than fifteen days or the prince would speak with him because of the chatelain of Amposte and his men, who were against him in the battle of Poitiers.

    Chronicle and Romance (The Harvard Classics Series) Thomas Malory Jean Froissart

  • And when he was before the prince, he excused himself so sagely that the prince and his council held him excused, and so he fell again into the prince's love and redeemed out his men by reasonable ransoms; and the chatelain was set to his ransom of ten thousand franks, the which he paid after.

    Chronicle and Romance (The Harvard Classics Series) Thomas Malory Jean Froissart

  • When finally their friends the Bernois and their enemies of Fribourg proposed to install Jean provisionally at Gruyère under the protection of an armed force, the countess thought prudent to retire, leaving the château to the management of her chatelain.

    The Counts of Gruyère Mrs. Reginald de Koven

  • In his company there were certain knights and squires, men of arms, who were more favourable to the French king than to the prince; and when they saw that the parties should fight, they stale from their masters and went to the French host; and they made their captain the chatelain of Amposte, [3] who was as then there with the cardinal, who knew nothing thereof till he was come to Poitiers.

    Chronicle and Romance (The Harvard Classics Series) Thomas Malory Jean Froissart

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