Category:Seneschal

Sen"es*chal, n. Etym: [of. seneschal, ll. seniscalcus, of teutonic Origin; cf. Goth. sineigs old, skalks, ohg. scalch, as. scealc. Cf. Senior, marshal.]

Defn: an officer in the houses of princes and dignitaries, in the Middle ages, who had the superintendence of feasts and domestic Ceremonies; a steward. Sometimes the seneschal had the dispensing of Justice, and was given high military commands. Then marshaled feast served up in hall with sewers and seneschale. Milton. Philip augustus, by a famous ordinance in 1190, first established Royal courts of justice, held by the officers called baitiffs, or Seneschals, who acted as the king's lieutenants in his demains. Hallam.