CHAIN also denotes a kind of string, of twisted wire; serving to hang watches, tweezers-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.