Cham"ber (?), n. [F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in LL. chamber, fr. Gr. anything with a vaulted roof or arched covering; cf. Skr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera, Comrade.]
1.
A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.
2. pl.
Apartments in a lodging house.
"A bachelor's life in
chambers."
Thackeray.
3.
A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber.
4.
A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce.
5.
A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eye.
6. pl. Law.
A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done out of court.
7.
A chamber pot.
[Colloq.]
8. Mil. (a)
That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; -- formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns.
(b)
A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the powder.
(c)
A short piece of ornance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades.
Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the Vocabulary. -- Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and traders of a city. -- Chamber council, a secret council. Shak. -- Chamber counsel ∨ counselor, a counselor who gives his opinion in private, or at his chambers, but does not advocate causes in court. -- Chamber fellow, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum. -- Chamber hangings, tapestry or hangings for a chamber. -- Chamber lye, urine. Shak. -- Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or chuch. -- Chamber practice Law., the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in court. -- To sit at chambers, to do business in chambers, as a judge.
© Webster 1913.
Cham"ber (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chambered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chambering.]
1.
To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.
2.
To be lascivious.
[Obs.]
© Webster 1913.
Cham"ber, v. t.
1.
To shut up, as inn a chamber.
Shak.
2.
To furnish with a chamber; as, to chamber a gun.
© Webster 1913.