seneschal

enUK

sen·e·schal

S0263100 (sĕn′ə-shəl)n. An official in a medieval noble household in charge of domestic arrangements and the administration of servants; a steward or major-domo.

[Middle English, from Old French, of Germanic origin.]

seneschal

(ˈsɛnɪʃəl) n1. (Historical Terms) a steward of the household of a medieval prince or nobleman who took charge of domestic arrangements, etc2. (Ecclesiastical Terms) Brit a cathedral official[C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin siniscalcus, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German senescalh oldest servant, from sene- old + scalh a servant]

sen•e•schal

(ˈsɛn ə ʃəl)

n. a steward in charge of the household of a medieval prince or dignitary. [1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Frankish; compare Medieval Latin seniscalcus senior servant, c. Old High German senescalh (sene- old, senior + scalh servant)]

Thesaurus

Noun

seneschal - the chief steward or butler of a great householdmajor-domoservant, retainer - a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

Translations

SeneschallTruchsess

seneschal

1. a steward of the household of a medieval prince or nobleman who took charge of domestic arrangements, etc. 2. Brit a cathedral official

Seneschal

(1) The administrator of the royal palace in the Frankish state of the fifth through eighth centuries. In the eighth century the seneschal also came to have judicial and military responsibilities. Great seigniors also had seneschals.

(2) In southern and western France, beginning in the 13th century, a royal official in charge of a judicial and administrative district known as a seneschalsy. Seneschals, who had broad judicial, administrative, financial, and military authority, were chosen mainly from among the local feudal nobility. In the 16th century, the seneschals lost all but their military responsibilities. The post was abolished during the French Revolution. In the northern part of France the seneschal’s functions were performed by the bailli.

seneschal

sen·e·schal

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sen•e•schal

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Seneschal

seneschal

Synonyms for seneschal

noun the chief steward or butler of a great household

Synonyms

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