Word of the Day: Chattel

 

chat·tel  noun \ˈcha-t^əl\

: something (such as a slave, piece of furniture, tool, etc.) that a person owns other than land or buildings

Full Definition of CHATTEL

1:  an item of tangible movable or immovable property except real estate and things (as buildings) connected with real property

2:  slave, bondman

 

Examples of CHATTEL

1. <at one time, the children of black slaves were also considered chattel>
2. <packed up all her chattels and moved to a new state>

Origin of CHATTEL

Middle English chatel property, from Anglo-French — more at cattle

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CHATTEL

Synonyms

bondman (also bondsman), slave, thrall

Antonyms

freeman

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chattel