chatelaine

noun

chat·e·laine ˈsha-tə-ˌlān

: the wife of a castellan : the mistress of a château

: the mistress of a household or of a large establishment

: a clasp or hook for a watch, purse, or bunch of keys

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The original chatelaine's domain was a castle or fort, and the chatelaine's duties were many. To complete them, she certainly needed keys. In the 18th century, the word chatelaine (borrowed from the French châtelaine) took on an additional meaning in English that alluded to this: the word came to be used for a decorative clasp or hook from which chains holding a watch, purse, keys, etc. were suspended. These popular accessories evoked the bunch of keys the original chatelaine had worn of necessity.

Examples of chatelaine in a Sentence

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Fox accessorized with a matching headpiece and chatelaine purse, completing her intricate look with Sable Jewelry rings and red reptile print Matea Gluščević platforms. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024 Among the grave goods buried with the girl were an iron knife, a chatelaine (decorative belt), glass beads, gold and garnet pins, and most significantly, an ornate gold pectoral cross inlaid with garnets, now known as the Trumpington Cross. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 June 2023