Chiltern Hills
a range of flint and chalk hills in England, extending through Oxford, Hertford, and Buckingham shires; loftiest summit 905 feet. These hills were anciently covered with forests, and were infested by numerous bands of robbers. The steward of the Chiltern Hundreds originally was an officer of the crown, appointed to protect the people of Bucks from the robbers of the Chiltern hills. This office is now a sinecure, but as a member of Parliament can only resign his seat by accepting office, he accepts this sinecure, Condamine ascended to 16,730 feet; no complete ascent had been made, till Whymper in 1880 twice reached the summit. The peak gives name to the province of Chimborazo, to the S. with an area of 5,523 square miles, and a pop. of about 125,000.
CHIMERE (shi-mēr'), the upper robe to which the lawn sleeves of a bishop are attached.