Forms: 3 chaumberling, -lein, 3–4 chamberlein, chaumburleyn, 3–5 chamberleyn(e, 4 chambyrleyne, chaumberlaine, -layn, chamburlain(e, 4–5 -layn(e, 4–6 -leyne, chamberlayn(e, 5 chawmbyrleyne, chambrelayne, Sc. chalmerlain, 5–7 chamberlaine, 6 chammerlayne, chambarlayn, 6–7 chamberlin, -len; Sc. chalmerlane; 4– chamberlain. [a. OF. chamberlain, -len, -lanc, -lenc, a. Ger. *kamarling (in OHG. chamarling, -linc, chamerling), f. kamara, chamara (a. L. camara, camera) CHAMBER + -LING. The German gave also the med.L. camerlengus, -lingus, It. camarlingo, Sp. camarlengo, Pr. camarlenc. Comparing CAMERA, and CHAMBER, we see that chamberlain is a Germanic formation, kamarling, which we have received through Romanic (i.e., OFr.); but that the basis of this Germanic formation was itself a Greek word, καμάρα, which German received through Latin. Chaumberling, in Ancren Riwle, appears to show assimilation to the native -ling in darling, etc., but it may have been influenced by the L. form in -lingus. (See also CHAMBELLAN.)]
1. a. A chamber attendant of a lord or king, one who waits on him in his bedchamber (arch.); a woman attending on a lady in her bedchamber (obs. rare). b. An officer charged with the management of the private chambers of a sovereign or nobleman.
Lord Great Chamberlain of England: a hereditary office, the main duties of which now consist in attending upon and attiring the sovereign at his coronation, the care of the ancient Palace of Westminster, the furnishing of Westminster Hall and the Houses of Parliament on state occasions, and attending upon peers and bishops at their creation or doing of homage.
Lord Chamberlain of the Household: a chief officer who shares with the Lord Steward, the Master of the Horse, and the Mistress of the Robes, the oversight of all officers of the Royal Household. He appoints the royal professional men and tradesmen, has control of the actors at the royal theatres, and is the licenser of plays.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 390. As hys chamberleyn hym broȝte … vorto werye, a peyre hose of say.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10432. Sco had a maiden hight vtaine, Þat was hir priue chambur-laine.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 3094. Hys [the king’s] chaumberlayn hym wrappyd warm.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cxciii. Syr hugh the spencer that was the kynges chamberlayne kepte soo the kynges chambre that no man must speke with the kyng.
1539. Househ. Ord., in Thynne’s Animadv. (1865), Introd. 33. That the Chamberlaines … shall cause like search to be made within all the Chambers.
1565–73. Cooper, Thesaurus, Abra … a little gyrle or mayde that attendeth on hir Maystresse, especially in hir chamber: a Chamberlayne.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. i. 123. My good Lord Chamberlaine.
1685. Lond. Gaz., No. 2056/4. His Majesty has been pleased to constitute the Right Honorable the Earl of Aylesbury Lord Chamberlain of his Houshold.
1795. Coleridge, Plot Discovered, 19. If ‘the Robbers’ can be legally suppressed by that thing yclept a Lord Chamberlain.
1872. Gloucestershire Chron., 13 Jan., 3/4. The Lord Chamberlain’s attempt to lengthen the transparent skirts of our ballet-girls.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., v. 139. The Chamberlain of the Romano-German Emperors is now the German Emperor.
fig. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 410. Luue is his chaumberling.
138[?]. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 165. Wommen is chaumburleyn of hert of mon þat lufs hir.
1608. Armin, Nest Ninn. (1842), 5. Riches, her chamberlaine … beauty her bed-fellow.
2. A steward; † a. title of a chief officer of the kingdom of Scotland (obs.); b. an officer who receives the rents and revenues of a corporation or public office (see CHAMBER sb. 5); c. the high steward or factor of a nobleman.
1424. Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1597), § 42. In euerie Burgh … the Chalmerlain sall inquire in his aire ȝeirlie, gif the Aldermen and Baillies, hes keiped the act.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 131. Iustices of Forests, Justices and Chamberleyns of Cuntreis, the Warden of the Ports.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 370. That the chamberleyn resceyve alle maner rentez.
1526. Tindale, Rom. xvi. 23. Erastus the chamberlayne [οἰκονόμος] of the cite saluteth you.
1538. Starkey, England, II. ii. 182. Lord Marschal Steuard and Chamburleyn of England.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 162. The Kings Chalmerlane, within the Kings Burrowes.
1620. J. Wilkinson, Court Leet, 136. That you well and truly shall serve the maior, aldermen, and burgesses of this town … in the office of chamberlaine or generall receiver.
1727–51. [see CHAMBER sb. 5].
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 38. On the large estates, there was an officer, next in authority to the proprietor himself, who under the name of chamberlain, was at once minister, general, and manager of the estate.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 201. All officers of the old corporations, such as town clerks, bailiffs, treasurers, or chamberlains.
1883. Pall Mall Gaz., 10 Oct., 10/1. His Grace says the latter made unfounded and offensive insinuations against Mr. Wyllie, his chamberlain.
1884. B. Scott, Lond. Roll Fame, 2. Admission to the Freedom should be made only in the Chamberlain’s Court held in the Guildhall.
† 3. An attendant at an inn, in charge of the bedchambers; a waiter or chambermaid. Obs.
1587. F. James, in Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 200. Given the ostler and chamberlayne … 2d.
1631. Milton, On Univ. Carrier, I. 14. [Death] In the kind office of a chamberlin Showed him his room where he must lodge that night.
1809. Pinkney, Trav. France, 19. The merited reprobation … of French beds and French chamberlains.
1829. Hood, Eug. Aram, xxiv. But Guilt was my grim chamberlain That lighted me to bed.
4. attrib., as in † chamberlain ayre or eyre (Sc.).
1805. R. Forsyth, Beauties Scotl., I. 146. He held circuits, or chamberlain ayres (as they were called), in the different boroughs, for the purpose of reviewing the decrees of the magistrates.
