Chapel

Chapel Chap"el, n. [OF. chapele, F. chapelle, fr. LL. capella, orig., a short cloak, hood, or cowl; later, a reliquary, sacred vessel, chapel; dim. of cappa, capa, cloak, cape, cope; also, a covering for the head. The chapel where St. Martin's cloak was preserved as a precious relic, itself came to be called capella, whence the name was applied to similar paces of worship, and the guardian of this cloak was called capellanus, or chaplain. See {Cap}, and cf. {Chaplain}., {Chaplet}.] 1. A subordinate place of worship; as, (a) a small church, often a private foundation, as for a memorial; (b) a small building attached to a church; (c) a room or recess in a church, containing an altar. [1913 Webster]

Note: In Catholic churches, and also in cathedrals and abbey churches, chapels are usually annexed in the recesses on the sides of the aisles. --Gwilt. [1913 Webster]

2. A place of worship not connected with a church; as, the chapel of a palace, hospital, or prison. [1913 Webster]

3. In England, a place of worship used by dissenters from the Established Church; a meetinghouse. [1913 Webster]

4. A choir of singers, or an orchestra, attached to the court of a prince or nobleman. [1913 Webster]

5. (Print.) (a) A printing office, said to be so called because printing was first carried on in England in a chapel near Westminster Abbey. (b) An association of workmen in a printing office. [1913 Webster]

{Chapel of ease}. (a) A chapel or dependent church built for the ease or a accommodation of an increasing parish, or for parishioners who live at a distance from the principal church. (b) A privy. (Law)

{Chapel master}, a director of music in a chapel; the director of a court or orchestra.

{To build a chapel} (Naut.), to chapel a ship. See {Chapel}, v. t., 2.

{To hold a chapel}, to have a meeting of the men employed in a printing office, for the purpose of considering questions affecting their interests. [1913 Webster]