Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAIR, n. [Fr. chaire, a pulpit, contracted from Norm. cadiere, as chain from catena; Arm. cadarn, or cador; Ir. cathaoir; L. cathedra; Gr. καθεδρα, connected with καθεζομαι, to sit, κατα and ἑζομαι; W. cadair, a seat or stool.]

1. A movable seat; a frame with a bottom made of different materials, used for persons to sit in; originally a stool, and anciently a kind of pulpit in churches.
2. A seat of justice or of authority; as, a chair of state.
3. A seat for a professor, or his office; as, the professor's chair.
4. The seat for a speaker or presiding officer of a public council or assembly, as the speaker's chair; and by a metonymy the speaker himself; as, to address the chair.
5. A sedan; a vehicle on poles borne by men.
6. A pulpit. – Burnet.
7. A two wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig.
8. Supreme office or magistracy. When Governor Shute came to the chair, several of the old councilors were laid aside. – Belknap.
9. The iron blocks which support and secure the rails in a rail-way. Curule chair, an ivory seat placed on a car, used by the prime magistrates of Rome.