/chan"seuh ree, chahn"-/ , n. , pl. chanceries .
1. the office or department of a chancellor; chancellery.
2. an office of public records, esp. those of the Lord Chancellor in England.
3. (in England) the Lord Chancellor's court, now a division of the High Court of Justice.
4. Law.
a. Also called court of chancery . a court having jurisdiction in equity; court of equity.
b. equity (defs. 3a, b).
5. the administrative office of a diocese.
6. Rom. Cath. Ch. a department of the Curia Romana now having the responsibility for issuing bulls to establish new dioceses, benefices, etc.
7. in chancery ,
a. Law. in litigation in a court of chancery.
b. Wrestling , Boxing. (of a contestant's head) held under an opponent's arm.
c. in a helpless or embarrassing position.
[ 1325-75; ME chancerie, var. of CHANCELRIE, syncopated var. of CHANCELLERIE CHANCELLERY ]