Châtelaine, the wife of the châtelain or Castellan (q.v.), the commander of a feudal castle. A chaîne châtelaine or simply châtelaine, a chain such as a lady châtelaine might wear (cf. the English housewife), is a chain depending from the waist, to which are attached keys, scissors, &c.
Châtelaine
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 3: Catarrh to Dion, p. 132
Source scan(s): p. 0141