CHAIN, (Gatena), a series of several rings, or links, fitted into one another.
There are chains of divers matters, sizes, forms, and for divers uses.—Ports, rivers, streets, &c. are closed with iron chains: rebellious cities are punished by taking away their chains and barriers.
The arms of the kingdom of Navarre are, Chains Or, in a field Gules. The occasion hereof is referred to the kings of Spain leagued against the Moors; who having gained a celebrated victory against them in 1212, in the distribution of the spoils the magnificent tent of Miralmumin fell to the king of Navarre, as being the first that broke and forced the chains thereof.
A gold CHAIN, is one of the ornaments or badges of the dignity of the chief magistrates of a city, as the mayor of London, the provost and bailies of Edinburgh, &c.—Something like this obtained among the ancient Gauls: the principal ornament of their persons in power and authority was a gold chain, which they wore on all occasions; and even in battle, to distinguish them from the common soldiers.
CHAIN also denotes a kind of string, of twisted wire; serving to hang watches, tweezer-cases, and other valuable toys upon. The invention of this piece of curious work is owing to the English: whence, in foreign countries, it is denominated the English chain. These chains are usually either of silver or gold, some of gilt copper; the thread, or wire of each kind to be very fine.—For the fabric, or making of these chains: a part of the wire is folded into little links of an oval form; the longest diameter about three lines; the shortest, one. These, after they have been exactly folded, are again folded into two; and then bound together, or interwove, by means of several other little threads of the same thickness; some whereof, which pass from one end to the other, imitate the warp of a stuff; and the others, which pass transverse, the woof. There are at least four thousand little links in a chain of four pendants; which are by this means bound so equally, and withal so firmly together, that the eye is deceived, and takes the whole to consist of one entire piece.
CHAIN is also a kind of measure in France, in the trade of wood for fuel. There are chains for wood by tale, for wood by the rope, for faggots, for cleft wood, and for round sticks. There are also chains for measuring the sheaves of all sorts of corn, particularly with regard to the payment of tithes; for measuring pottles of hay, and for measuring horses. All these are divided into feet, inches, hands, &c. according to the use they are designed for.