Chapter Chair-days to Chancellor of England of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Challenging a Jury This may be to object to all the jurors from some informality in the way they have been “arrayed” or empanelled, or to one or more of the jurors, from some real or supposed disqualification or bias of judgment. The word “challenge” is Norman, and is exactly equivalent to “call out;” hence we say Captain A challenged or called out Captain B.

Cham (kam). The sovereign prince of Tartary, now written, “khan.”

“Fetch you a hair off the great Cham's beard.”- Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing, ii. 1.

    The great Cham of Literature. Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).
Chambre Ardente (French), “A lighted chamber” (A darkened court). Before the Revolution, certain offences in France were tried in a court from which daylight was excluded, and the only light admitted was by torches. These inquisitorial courts were devised by Cardinal Lorraine. The first was held in the reign of Francois I., for trying heretics. Brinvilliers and his associates were tried in a darkened court in 1680. Another was held in 1716, during the regency. When judges were ashamed to be seen, prisoners could not expect much leniency.

Chameleon You are a chameleon, i.e. very changeable- shifting according to the opinions of others, as the chameleon changes its hue to that of contiguous objects.

“As the chameleon, who is known
To have no colours of its own,
But borrows from his neighbour's hue,
His white or black, his green or blue.”
Prior

    Pliny tells us that Democritus wrote a book on superstitions connected with the chameleon.
   C'est un cameleon. One who shifts his opinions according to circumstances; a vicar of Bray.
   To chameleonise is to change one's opinions as a chameleon changes its colour.

Champ de Manoeuvre (Le). The soldiers' exercise ground.

Champs de Mai The same as the Champs de Mars (q.v.), transferred after 755 to the month of May. Napoleon I. revived these meetings during the “Hundred Days” (June 1st, 1815).

Champs de Mars The March meetings held by Clovis and his immediate followers, sometimes as mere pageants for the amusement of the freedmen who came to offer homage to their lord, and pay their annual gifts; sometimes for business purposes, especially when the king wished to consult his warriors about some expedition.

Champak' An Indian tree (Michelia Champaca). The wood is sacred to Buddha, and the strongly-scented golden flowers are worn in the black hair of Indian women.

“The Champak odours fail.”
Shelley: Lines to Indian Air.

Champerty (Latin, campi partitio, division of the land) is a bargain with some person who undertakes at his own cost to recover property on condition of receiving a share thereof if he succeeds.

“Champerty is treated as a worse offence; for by this a stranger supplies money to carry on a suit, on condition of sharing in the land or other property.”- Parsons: Contracts (vol. ii. part ii. chap. 3, page 264.)

Champion and Severall A “champion” is a common, or land in allotments without enclosures. A “severall” is a private farm, or land enclosed for individual use. A champion also means one who holds a champion.

“The champion differs from severall much
For want of partition, closier, and such.”
Tusser: Five Hundred Points, etc. (Intro.).

Champion of England A person whose office it is to ride up Westminster Hall on a Coronation Day, and challenge any one who disputes the right of succession. The office was established by William the Conqueror, and was given to Marmion and his male descendants, with the manor of “broad Scrivelsby.” De Ludlow received the office and manor through the female line; and in the reign of Richard