chamberlain
/ˈtʃeɪmbəlɪn
/noun
1 historical An officer who managed the household of a monarch or noble.In fact, a former chamberlain to the Crown Prince described the remarks as the equivalent to a declaration of war....
- The son of a Yorkist retainer, he came into prominence at the beginning of the reign as chamberlain of the household.
- Always a charming courtier, Dudley had managed to obtain a sinecure as chamberlain to Grand Duchess Maria Maddalena, wife of Cosimo II.
1.1British An officer who received revenue on behalf of a corporation or public body.The chamberlains took over accounting responsibilities from the bailiffs in 1465 and in the same year Reynold Rokes was appointed town clerk....
- Its treasurer was the head of the administration, but the chamberlain made financial policy.
- The 1555 recension continues this principle, although by that time it was the chamberlains who were the accounting officers.
Derivatives
chamberlainship
- William de Pont de l' Arche, for example, had offered 1,000 marks for a chamberlainship and in 1129-30 he paid just 100 marks.
- The village dates back to the 7th century AC, when Siena was a chamberlainship due to its strategic position.
- Heton recovered his losses by 1572 but in December 1577, once again in debt, he was dismissed from the chamberlainship in circumstances which remain mysterious.
Origin
Middle English (denoting a servant in a bedchamber): via Old French from Old Saxon kamera, from Latin camera 'vault' (see chamber).