chapel

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtʃap(ə)l/

noun

  • 1a small building or room used for Christian worship in a school, prison, hospital, or large private house: a service in the chapel
  • a part of a large church or cathedral with its own altar and dedication: the first chapel on the right of the cathedral is dedicated to St Ludmila
  • British a place of worship for Nonconformist congregations: she went to chapel twice on Sunday
  • a small building or room used for funeral services: the funeral was in the chapel at Broadfoot Brothers Funeral Home
  • US a chapel of rest.
  • 2British the members or branch of a print or newspaper trade union at a particular place of work: Mr Brind was the head of the BBC’s NUJ chapel

adjective

British informal
  • belonging to or regularly attending a Nonconformist chapel: staunch chapel folk

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French chapele, from medieval Latin cappella, diminutive of cappa 'cap or cape' (the first chapel being a sanctuary in which St Martin's cloak was preserved)