woolsack
Americannoun
-
a sack or bag of wool.
-
British.
-
(in the House of Lords) one of a number of cloth-covered seats or divans stuffed with wool, for the use of judges, especially one for the Lord Chancellor.
-
the Lord Chancellor's office.
-
noun
-
a sack containing or intended to contain wool
-
(in Britain) the seat of the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords, formerly made of a large square sack of wool
Etymology
Origin of woolsack
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at wool, sack 1
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 Royal Commission, made up of five peers appointed by the King, take their places on the woolsack dressed in red ermine robes and black and two-pointed, bicorner hats.
From BBC ● May 25, 2024
She will chair her first session from the woolsack on 5 September.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2011
At Wembley, he should sit on a woolsack.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 24, 2010
Distrusted, and extravagantly admired, he established a record by reaching the Lord High Chancellor's woolsack at the age of 45.
From Time Magazine Archive
In 1705 he was appointed lord keeper of the great seal, and took his seat on the woolsack without a peerage.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" 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.
