chapel
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A printers’ assembly, held for the purpose of discussing differences between employer and workmen, trade regulations, or other matters. The term is scarcely slang, but some "comps" ask its insertion in this work.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “chapel” mean?
A printers’ assembly, held for the purpose of discussing differences between employer and workmen, trade regulations, or other matters. The term is scarcely slang, but some "comps" ask its insertion in this work.
Is “chapel” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.