woolsack

[wool-sak]

noun

1. a sack or bag of wool.

2. British.

   1. (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.

   2. the Lord Chancellor's office.

woolsack

/ ˈwʊlˌsæk /

noun

1. a sack containing or intended to contain wool

2. (in Britain) the seat of the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords, formerly made of a large square sack of wool

Word History and Origins

Origin of woolsack¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; wool, sack ¹

Example Sentences

It is smaller and has a more upmarket feel than The Woolsack, but has also seen its share of bad behaviour over the years.

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But the most popular venue on the estate, The Woolsack, is more like a traditional British pub that you would find in any market square or High Street.

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The Lord Speaker chairs daily business in the chamber from his seat on the woolsack and, like the House of Commons Speaker, is expected to be politically impartial.

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The Tetbury Woolsack Races have been held since 1972, drawing on a local tradition dating back to the 17th century in the historic wool-trading town.

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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.

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