Chattel

Chattel (Old Fr. chatel, from Low Lat. capitale, meaning the capital or principal sum in a loan; hence goods in general, especially cattle, as distinguished from land), in the law of England, is a term used to designate any kind of property which, with reference either to the nature of the subject or the character of the interest possessed in it, is not freehold. Ownership in personal or movable property is generally absolute. Any estate or interest in lands and tenements not amounting to freehold is a chattel. But as, between property thus 'savouring of realty' and mere personal movables—money, plate, cattle, and the like—there was a manifest distinction, chattels were, consequently, distinguished into chattels-real and chattels-personal. These classes of property differ considerably as to the method of holding and transferring them and their devolution on death. See REAL.