chatelaine

== English == === Alternative forms === châtelaine === Etymology === Borrowed from French châtelaine, the feminine form of châtelain (“castle-keeper, castellan; one living in a castle”), from Medieval Latin castellanus (“occupants of a castle”), from castellum (“castle, fort”) (diminutive of castrum (“castle, fort”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱes- (“to cut off, separate”)) + -ānus (“of or pertaining to”). By surface analysis, Old French chatel +‎ French -aine. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʃætəleɪn/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈʃætəˌleɪn/, [-ɾl̩-] Hyphenation: cha‧te‧laine === Noun === chatelaine (plural chatelaines) (dated) The mistress of a castle or large household. [from mid 19th c.] (historical) A chain or clasp worn at the waist by women with handkerchief, keys, etc., attached, supposed to resemble the chain of keys once worn by medieval chatelaines. Coordinate term: equipage A similar thing in miniature attached to a watchchain. ==== Usage notes ==== Not to be confused with chatelain (“keeper or master of a castle”), which is pronounced the same. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Notes === === Further reading === chatelaine (chain) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia chatelaine (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-killer-mobile-device-for-victorian-women