chan ‧ cel /ˈtʃɑːns ə l $ ˈtʃæn-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Late Latin cancellus 'framework of crossed bars' , from Latin cancer ( ⇨ ↑ cancel ); because the chancel was enclosed with such a framework ]
the part of a church where the priests and the ↑ choir (=singers) sit