CHATTEL (O.F. chatel, property), prop erty movable and immovable, not being free hold. The word chattels is originally the same word with cattle, all property being reckoned in early periods by the number of heads of cat tle possessed, or their equivalent. The word also has the same origin. From the fact that cattle were reckoned by the head, it appears probable that they were called capitalia (from the Latin caput, the head), which be came contracted by syncope into captalia, and then catalia, whence the legal term catalla, and our ((chattels° and (4 catt le.)' Hence the word chattels signified originally only movable prop erty, but in course of time came to be applied to all property not held in feudal tenure. Chat tels are divided into real and personal. Chat tels real are such as belong not to the person immediately, but dependently upon something.
Any interest in land or tenements, for example, is a real chattel; so also is a lease, a rent for a term of years, an interest in advowsons, etc. Chattels personal arc goods which belong im mediately to the person of the owner, and in clude all movable property. Chattels usually pass to the executor, except such, for instance, as trees, which may not be severed from the freehold, and therefore pass to the heir. But objects forming part of the real estate may be come chattels upon being separated from it, as for example, ore, oil, timber, etc. Chattels per sonal, at common law, are transferable by agreement, when the transfer is made for a consideration; but if the transfer is made through a gift, the delivery of the chattel is necessary to confer title on the guarantee.