Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Chancellor \Chan"cel*lor\, n. [OE. canceler, chaunceler, F.
   chancelier, LL. cancellarius chancellor, a director of
   chancery, fr. L. cancelli lattices, crossbars, which
   surrounded the seat of judgment. See {Chancel}.]
   A judicial court of chancery, which in England and in the
   United States is distinctively a court with equity
   jurisdiction.

   Note: The chancellor was originally a chief scribe or
         secretary under the Roman emperors, but afterward was
         invested with judicial powers, and had superintendence
         over the other officers of the empire. From the Roman
         empire this office passed to the church, and every
         bishop has his chancellor, the principal judge of his
         consistory. In later times, in most countries of
         Europe, the chancellor was a high officer of state,
         keeper of the great seal of the kingdom, and having the
         supervision of all charters, and like public
         instruments of the crown, which were authenticated in
         the most solemn manner. In France a secretary is in
         some cases called a chancellor. In Scotland, the
         appellation is given to the foreman of a jury, or
         assize. In the present German empire, the chancellor is
         the president of the federal council and the head of
         the imperial administration. In the United States, the
         title is given to certain judges of courts of chancery
         or equity, established by the statutes of separate
         States. --Blackstone. Wharton.

   {Chancellor} {of a bishop, or of a diocese} (R. C. Ch. & ch.
      of Eng.), a law officer appointed to hold the bishop's
      court in his diocese, and to assist him in matter of
      ecclesiastical law.

   {Chancellor of a cathedral}, one of the four chief
      dignitaries of the cathedrals of the old foundation, and
      an officer whose duties are chiefly educational, with
      special reference to the cultivation of theology.

   {Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster}, an officer before
      whom, or his deputy, the court of the duchy chamber of
      Lancaster is held. This is a special jurisdiction.

   {Chancellor of a university}, the chief officer of a
      collegiate body. In Oxford, he is elected for life; in
      Cambridge, for a term of years; and his office is
      honorary, the chief duties of it devolving on the vice
      chancellor.

   {Chancellor of the exchequer}, a member of the British
      cabinet upon whom devolves the charge of the public income
      and expenditure as the highest finance minister of the
      government.

   {Chancellor of the order of the Garter} (or other military
      orders), an officer who seals the commissions and mandates
      of the chapter and assembly of the knights, keeps the
      register of their proceedings, and delivers their acts
      under the seal of their order.

   {Lord high chancellor of England}, the presiding judge in the
      court of chancery, the highest judicial officer of the
      crown, and the first lay person of the state after the
      blood royal. He is created chancellor by the delivery into
      his custody of the great seal, of which he becomes keeper.
      He is privy counselor by his office, and prolocutor of the
      House of Lords by prescription.