Orig. the endowment of a priest to offer up prayers for a particular person after their death; later a chapel or altar endowed for the saying of prayers and singing of mass for its founder. They remained popular until suppressed in 1545 in the Dissolution. Some were dedicated chapels within a larger building; others were small and dedicated, set apart. [< OldFr. chanterie < chanter = sing]
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.