n. [ F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, v. t. ] 1. Song; melody. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His strange face, his strange chant. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian.
Chant royal [ F. ], in old French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain. --
Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chanting. ] [ F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant affected speaking, and see Hen. ] 1. To utter with a melodious voice; to sing. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To celebrate in song. [ 1913 Webster ]

The poets chant in the theaters. Bramhall. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make melody with the voice; to sing. “Chant to the sound of the viol.” Amos vi. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) To sing, as in reciting a chant. [ 1913 Webster ]

To chant horses or
To chaunt horses, to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F. singing. ] (Mus.) Composed in a melodious and singing style. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. chanteur. ] 1. One who chants; a singer or songster. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The chief singer of the chantry. J. Gregory. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The flute or finger pipe in a bagpipe. See Bagpipe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The hedge sparrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] (Bot.) A name for several species of mushroom, of which one (Cantharellus cibrius) is edible, the others reputed poisonous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. chanter to sing, and Chant. n. ] A sailor's song. [ 1913 Webster ]

May we lift a deep-sea chantey such as seamen use at sea? Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. Chanteclair, name of the cock in the Roman du Renart (Reynard the Fox); chanter to chant + clair clear. See Chant, and Clear. ] A cock, so called from the clearness or loudness of his voice in crowing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Singing, esp. as a chant is sung. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chanting falcon (Zool.), an African falcon (Melierax canorus or musicus). The male has the habit, remarkable in a bird of prey, of singing to his mate, while she is incubating. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A chanter. [ 1913 Webster ]