Chat"tel (?), n. [OF. chatel; another form of catel. See Cattle.] Law
Any item of movable or immovable property except the freehold, or the things which are parcel of it. It is a more extensive term than goods or effects.
⇒ Chattels are personal or real: personal are such as are movable, as goods, plate, money; real are such rights in land as are less than a freehold, as leases, mortgages, growing corn, etc.
Chattel mortgage Law, a mortgage on personal property, as distinguished from one on real property.
© Webster 1913.