parliament

plural parliaments · alternative Parliament · alternative obsolete parlament

1. countablehistoricaluncountableA formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.First known use 13th c.

   By the 13th Century, a parliament was when kings met up with English barons to raise cash for fighting wars - mostly against Scotland.

   2014, “A brief history of the UK Parliament”, in BBC News

2. countableuncountableIn many countries, the legislative branch of government, a deliberative assembly or set of assemblies whose elected or appointed members meet to debate the major political issues of the day, make, amend, and repeal laws, authorize the executive branch of government to collect and spend money, and in some cases exercise judicial powers; a legislature.First known use 14th c.

   The row started over who will run for parliament in a wealthy rightwing constituency on the left bank in Paris, a safe seat for Sarkozy's ruling UMP.

   2011 December 14, Angelique Chrisafis, “Rachida Dati accuses French PM of sexism and elitism”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 19 Apr 2016

3. countableuncountableA particular assembly of the members of such a legislature, as convened for a specific purpose or period of time (commonly designated with an ordinal number – for example, first parliament or 12th parliament – or a descriptive adjective – for example, Long Parliament, Short Parliament and Rump Parliament).First known use 14th c.

   Following the general election, Jane Doe took her oath of office as a member of the nation's fifth parliament.

   2 more examples

   The acts made in the first Parliament of our most high and dread soveraigne Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. […]

   1633, John Hay, editor, The Acts Made in the First Parliament of our Most High and Dread Soveraigne Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.: Holden by Himselfe, Present in Person, with His Three Estates, at Edinburgh, upon the Twentie Eight Day of Iune, Anno Domini 1633, Edinburgh: Printed by Robert Young, printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, →OCLC, title page

   [T]he army under Lambert again thrust the Rump Parliament out of doors, and commenced a new military government, by means of a committee of officers, called the Council of Safety.

   1834, Walter Scott, Tales of a Grandfather (Waverley Tales; 49), Parker's edition, volume I, Boston, Mass.: Samuel H[ale] Parker, →OCLC, page 223

4. collectivecountableuncountableA gathering of birds, especially rooks or owls.First known use 15th c.

   A group of owls is called a parliament.

   2019 June 6, “A gaggle, a confusion and a conspiracy - bizarre animal collective group names”, in BBC

   3 more examples

   "The people at home call it a rook's parliament when a whole crowd of rooks settle on some bare, wide common, and sit there as if they were consulting, not feeding, only stalking about with drooping wings, and solemn black cloaks."

   1866, [Charlotte Mary Yonge], chapter III, in The Heir of Redclyffe […] In Two Volumes, volume I, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, 443 & 445 Broadway, →OCLC, page 32

   Man is not the random collection of atoms with no opportunity for redemption. A mere school of fish, a gaggle of geese, a pride of lions, and a congress of baboons—am I to believe these lower primates are my ancestors? And if I should ask a parliament of owls, what might they say?

   2015 January 5, Desmond Mattocks, “Seeking Meaning”, in The Last Word of America: The World in Context of America, Bloomington, Ind.: WestBow Press, →ISBN, page 97

   He'd seen a parliament of rooks a hundred strong fall on and kill one of their number amongst the nodding barley rows, and had been shown a yew that had the face of Jesus in its bark.

   2016, Alan Moore, Jerusalem, Liveright, published 2016, page 122

5. countablehistoricaluncountableParliament cake, a type of gingerbread.First known use 19th c.

   A certain boy leaning up against me would not allow my elbow room, and struck me very sadly in the stomach part, though his own was full of my parliament.

   1869, R[ichard] D[oddridge] Blackmore, chapter II, in Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor. […], volume I, London: Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, […], →OCLC, page 9

   2 more examples

   He […] was disposed to spoil little Georgy, sadly gorging the boy with apples and parliament, to the detriment of his health—until Amelia declared that George should never go out with his grandpapa unless the latter promised solemnly, and on his honour, not to give the child any cakes, lollipops, or stall produce whatever.

   1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC

   The children had long ago found out that the kites and shuttlecocks were failures; and popular rumour spoke in deprecating terms of the parliament and gingerbread in general, comparing it to petrified sponge, or slices of pumice stone.

   1846, Albert Smith, The Snob's Progress

6. UKcountableuncountablea length of time for which a parliament is summoned, in modern times therefore the period between two consecutive elections.

   This parliament has been more scandal-filled than any other in history.

alternative Parl.

1. Alternative letter-case form of parliament, a specific parliament, particularly that of England or the United Kingdom.