Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- an ecclesiastic attached to the chapel of a royal court, college, etc., or to a military unit.
- a person who says the prayer, invocation, etc., for an organization or at an assembly.
noun
- a Christian clergyman attached to a private chapel of a prominent person or institution or ministering to a military body, professional group, etca military chaplain; a prison chaplain
mid-14c., “minister of a chapel,” from Old French chapelein “clergyman” (Modern French chapelain), from Medieval Latin cappellanus “clergyman,” originally “custodian of St. Martin’s cloak” (see chapel). Replaced Old English capellane (from the same Medieval Latin source) “clergyman who conducts private religious services,” originally in great households, later in military regiments, prisons, etc.