Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAP'EL, n. [Fr. chapelle; L capella; Arm. chapel; Sp. capilla, a chapel, a hood or cowl, a chapter of collegians, a proof-sheet; Port. capella; It. cappella; D. kapel; from the same root as cap. It is said that the kings of France, in war, carried St. Martin's hat into the field, which was kept in a tent as a precious relic, whence the place took the name capella, a little hat, and the priest who had the custody of the tent was called capellanus, now chaplain. Hence the word chapel came to signify a private oratory. – Encyc. Lunier.]

1. A house for public worship; primarily, a private oratory, or house of worship belonging to a private person. In Great Britain there are several sorts of chapels; as, parochial chapels, distinct from the mother church; chapels which adjoin to and are a part of the church; such were formerly built by honorable persons for burying-places; chapels of ease, built in large parishes for the accommodation of the inhabitants; free chapels, which were founded by the kings of England; chapels in the universities, belonging to particular colleges; domestic chapels, built by noblemen or gentlemen for the use of their families. – Encyc.
2. A printer's work-house; said to be so called because printing was first carried on in a chapel. – Bailey. Encyc.