Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAIN, n. [Fr. chaîne, for chaisne; Norm. cadene, and cheyne; Arm. chaden, cadenn, or jadenn; Sp. cadena; Port. cadea; It. catena; L. catena; D. keten; G. kette; Sw. kädia; Dan. kede; W. cadwen; Qu. Ar. اكَادٌ from أكَدَ akada, to bind or make fast.]

1. A series of links or rings connected, or fitted into one another, usually made of some kind of metal, as a chain of gold, or of iron; but the word is not restricted to any particular kind of material. It is used often for an ornament about the person.
2. That which binds; a real chain; that which restrains, confines, or fetters; a bond. If God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them into chains of darkness. – 2 Peter ii.
3. Bondage; affliction. He hath made my chain heavy. – Lam. iii.
4. Bondage; slavery. In despotism the people sleep soundly in their chains. – Ames.
5. Ornament. – Prov. i. 9.
6. A series of things linked together; a series of things connected or following in succession; as, a chain of causes, of ideas, or events; a chain of being.
7. A range, or line of things connected; as, a chain of mountains.
8. A series of links, forming an instrument to measure land.
9. A string of twisted wire, or something similar, to hang a watch on, and for other purposes.
10. In France, a measure of wood for fuel, and various commodities, of various length.
11. In ship building, chains are strong links or plates of iron, bolted at the lower end to the ship's side, used to contain the blocks called dead eyes, by which the shrouds of the mast are extended.
12. The warp in weaving, as in French.
13. Chain, in surveying land, is in length four rods or perches, or sixty-six feet. It consists of one hundred links, each link seven inches, 92/100. Chain-pump. This consists of a long chain, equipped with a sufficient number of valves, moving on two wheels, one above, the other below, rising downward through a wooden tube and returning through another. It is managed by a long winch, on which several men may be employed at once. – Encyc. Chain-shot, two balls or half balls connected by a chain, and used to cut down masts, or cut away shrouds and rigging. Chain-wales of a ship, broad and thick planks projecting from a ship's side, abreast of and behind the masts, for the purpose of extending the shrouds, for better supporting the masts, and preventing the shrouds from damaging the gunwale. – Encyc. Chain-work, work consisting of threads, cords and the like, linked together in the form of a chain; as, lineal chaining or tambour work, reticulation or net work, &c. – Ed. Encyc. Top-chain, on board a ship, a chain to sling the sail-yards in time of battle, to prevent their falling, when the ropes that support them are shot away. – Encyc.