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Chamberlain, Wilton Norman Known as "Wilt." 1936-1999.

American basketball player. He ranks among the all-time leading NBA scorers and rebounders and holds the record for most points (100) scored in a single game.

Cham·ber·lain

(chāmbər-lĭn), (Arthur) Neville 1869-1940.

British politician and prime minister (1937-1940) who advocated a policy of appeasement toward the fascist regimes of Europe. He was forced to declare war on Germany after its invasion of Poland in 1939.

cham·ber·lain

(chāmbər-lən)

a. An officer who manages the household of a sovereign or noble; a chief steward.

b. A high-ranking official in various royal courts.

2. An official who receives the rents and fees of a municipality; a treasurer.

3. Roman Catholic Church

a. A papal gentleman. No longer in use.

b. A camerlengo.

[Middle English chaumberlein, from Old French chamberlenc, from Frankish *kamerling : Late Latin camera, chamber; see CHAMBER + Germanic *-linga-, one connected with; see -LING¹.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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