Star Chamber

Star Chamber  (stär)

n.

1. A 15th-century to 17th-century English court consisting of judges who were appointed by the Crown and sat in closed session on cases involving state security.

2. star chamber A court or group that engages in secret, harsh, or arbitrary procedures.

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[So called because the ceiling of the original courtroom was decorated with stars.]

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Star Chamber

n

1. (Historical Terms) English history the Privy Council sitting as a court of equity, esp powerful under the Tudor monarchs; abolished 1641

2. (Law) (sometimes not capitals) any arbitrary tribunal dispensing summary justice

3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (sometimes not capitals) (in Britain, in a Conservative government) a group of senior ministers who make the final decision on the public spending of each government department

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Star Chamber - a former English court that became notorious for its arbitrary methods and severe punishments court, judicature, tribunal - an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business