Black Rod
Americannoun
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(in England) an official of the Order of the Garter and chief ceremonial usher of the House of Lords: so called from the rod carried as the symbol of office.
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a similar official in British colonial and Commonwealth legislatures.
noun
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(in Britain) an officer of the House of Lords and of the Order of the Garter, whose main duty is summoning the Commons at the opening and proroguing of Parliament
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a similar officer in any of certain other legislatures
Etymology
Origin of Black Rod
First recorded in 1625–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A parliamentary official known as Black Rod will have the door of the lower chamber House of Commons slammed in their face, a tradition that symbolises parliament's independence from the monarchy.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
Who is Black Rod and what do they do in Parliament?
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
He or she then has to knock three times on the door with the rod to gain entry, before it is opened and MPs follow Black Rod back to the upper chamber.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
After being sent from the House of Lords, Black Rod knocks on the door of the House of Commons, to summon MPs for the King's Speech.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
Black Rod despatched to summon Commons to assist at ceremony.
From Punch, Or The London Charivari, Volume 102, July 2, 1892 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
