catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Parliament \Par"lia*ment\, n. [OE. parlement, F. parlement, fr.
     parler to speak; cf. LL. parlamentum, parliamentum. See
     Parley.]
     1. A parleying; a discussion; a conference. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              But first they held their parliament. --Rom. of R.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A formal conference on public affairs; a general council;
        esp., an assembly of representatives of a nation or people
        having authority to make laws.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They made request that it might be lawful for them
              to summon a parliament of Gauls.      --Golding.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The assembly of the three estates of the United Kingdom of
        Great Britain and Ireland, viz., the lords spiritual,
        lords temporal, and the representatives of the commons,
        sitting in the House of Lords and the House of Commons,
        constituting the legislature, when summoned by the royal
        authority to consult on the affairs of the nation, and to
        enact and repeal laws.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Thought the sovereign is a constituting branch of
           Parliament, the word is generally used to denote the
           three estates named above.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     4. In France, before the Revolution of 1789, one of the
        several principal judicial courts.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Parliament heel, the inclination of a ship when made to
        careen by shifting her cargo or ballast.
  
     Parliament hinge (Arch.), a hinge with so great a
        projection from the wall or frame as to allow a door or
        shutter to swing back flat against the wall.
  
     Long Parliament, Rump Parliament. See under Long, and
        Rump.
        [1913 Webster]

  Parliament \Par"lia*ment\, n. [OE. parlement, F. parlement, fr.
     parler to speak; cf. LL. parlamentum, parliamentum. See
     Parley.]
     1. A parleying; a discussion; a conference. [Obs.]
  
              But first they held their parliament. --Rom. of R.
  
     2. A formal conference on public affairs; a general council;
        esp., an assembly of representatives of a nation or people
        having authority to make laws.
  
              They made request that it might be lawful for them
              to summon a parliament of Gauls.      --Golding.
  
     3. The assembly of the three estates of the United Kingdom of
        Great Britain and Ireland, viz., the lords spiritual,
        lords temporal, and the representatives of the commons,
        sitting in the House of Lords and the House of Commons,
        constituting the legislature, when summoned by the royal
        authority to consult on the affairs of the nation, and to
        enact and repeal laws.
  
     Note: Thought the sovereign is a constituting branch of
           Parliament, the word is generally used to denote the
           three estates named above.
  
     4. In France, before the Revolution of 1789, one of the
        several principal judicial courts.
  
     Parliament heel, the inclination of a ship when made to
        careen by shifting her cargo or ballast.
  
     Parliament hinge (Arch.), a hinge with so great a
        projection from the wall or frame as to allow a door or
        shutter to swing back flat against the wall.
  
     Long Parliament, Rump Parliament. See under Long, and
        Rump.