woolsack
Americannoun
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a sack or bag of wool.
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British.
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(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.
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the Lord Chancellor's office.
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noun
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a sack containing or intended to contain wool
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(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.
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.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2024
At the end of her final day on the woolsack on Wednesday there was a break with usual Lords etiquette as she was cheered and clapped as business for the day ended.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2011
At Wembley, he should sit on a woolsack.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 24, 2010
Her father, who told her macabre fairy stories and took her to prize fights, encouraged her "to be cheeky before solemn statesmen," allowed her to bounce up & down on the lord chancellor's woolsack.
From Time Magazine Archive
And then, if Selborne resigns the woolsack, and it becomes necessary to choose a Chancellor for his debating power?
From Letters of Lord Acton To Mary, Daughter of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron Acton
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