hustings
Americannoun
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(before 1872) the temporary platform on which candidates for the British Parliament stood when nominated and from which they addressed the electors.
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any place from which political campaign speeches are made.
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the political campaign trail.
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Also called hustings court. a local court in certain parts of Virginia.
noun
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(before 1872) the platform on which candidates were nominated for Parliament and from which they addressed the electors
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the proceedings at a parliamentary election
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political campaigning
Etymology
Origin of hustings
before 1050; Middle English, Old English < Old Danish hūs-thing house meeting. See house, thing 2
Explanation
Any activities connected with a political campaign or election — speeches, debates, and so on — can be called hustings. Presidential candidates often spend more than a year on the hustings. In the US, hustings are typically called "stumping" or "being on the stump." Hustings is more likely to be used in the UK and Canada to describe campaigning. An event at which candidates address voters or debate each other can be called hustings, and you can also say that a candidate is "on the hustings." The word comes from an Old Norse word, husðing, "council," from the roots hus, or "house," and ðing, "assembly."
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.
Hustings and two further rounds of voting at Westminster will follow on 9-10 October, leaving only two contenders.
From BBC • Sep. 4, 2024
Hustings are better but they are party events held with an audience exclusively made up of party members.
From BBC • Aug. 30, 2022
“The appropriate response here is not law enforcement,” said Megan Hustings, deputy director of National Coalition for the Homeless.
From Slate • Feb. 5, 2021
“Socks are one of the most needed but often the least donated items at shelters,” said Megan Hustings, interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.
From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2016
“Hurry up,” called Tom Hustings, “it’s miserable out here. Dismal. I’m getting soaked.”
From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
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.
