Definition of Chattel

An article of personal property; any species of property not amounting to a freehold or fee in land. People v. Holbrook, 13 Johns. (N. Y.) 94; Homblower v. Proud, 2 Barn. & Aid. 335; State v. Bartlett, 55 Me. 211; State v. Brown, 9 Baxh (Tenn.) 54, 40 Am. Rep. 81. The name given to things which in law are deemed personal property. Chattels are divided into chattels real and chattels personui ; chattels reni being interests in land which devolve after the manner of personal estate, as leaseholds. As opposed to freeholds, they are regarded as personal estate. But, as being interests in real estate, they are calied "chattels reni," to distinguish them from movables, which are calied "chattels personal." Mozley & Whitley. Chattels personal are movables only; chattels real are such as savor only of the realty. Putnam v. Westcott, 19 Johns. (N. Y.) 73; Hawkins v. Trust Co. (C. Oil 79 Fed. 50; Insurance Co., v. Haven, 95 U. S. 251, 24 L. Ed. 473; Knapp v. Jones, 143 111. 375, 32 N. E. 382. The term "chattels" is a more comprehensive one than "goods," as it includes animate as well as inanimate property. 2 Chit. Bl. Comm. 383, note. In a devise, however, they seem to be of the same import. Shep. Touch. 447; 2 Fonbl. Eq. 335.
—Chattel interest. An interest in corporeal hereditaments less than a freehold. 2 Kent, Comm. 342.
—Personal chattels. Things movable which mav be annexed to or attendant on the person of the owner, and carried about with him from one part of the world to another. 2 BL Comm. 387.
—Real chattels. Such as concern, or savor of, the realty, such as leasehold estates ; interests issuing out of, or annexed to, real estate; such chattel interests as devolve after the manner of'realty. 2 Bl. Comm. 386.