curule chair

American  

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) a folding seat with curved legs and no back, often ornamented with ivory, used only by certain high officials.

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curule chair British  

noun

1. an upholstered folding seat with curved legs used by the highest civil officials of ancient Rome

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Etymology

Origin of curule chair

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

curule chair

The solemn, awful, inexorable literary Rhadamanthus, the dread Quarterly Review itself, sitting imposingly on its curule chair in ambrosial bigwig and high-heeled shoes, promulgated edicts against the new-fangled invention.

From Time Magazine Archive

He demanded back the ancient privilege of his priesthood, which was given, together with the purple-bordered robe, and the curule chair, to the office of flamen.

From The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 by Livius, Titus

The principal part of the procession, of course, was the consuls in their curule chair, preceded by the lictors bearing the fasces, or bundles of rods and axes.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 57, No. 351, January 1845 by Various

"Do sit down," she said, indicating a "property" curule chair.

From The Tower of Oblivion by Onions, Oliver [pseud.]

Accordingly, Catullus calls Nonius an "ulcer-spot," though "sitting in the curule chair."

From The Consolation of Philosophy by James, H. R. (Henry Rosher)