Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A merely formal office applied for by members of Parliament when they wish to resign from the House of Commons.
from The Century Dictionary.
- See
hundred , n.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- A tract of crown land in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, England, to which is attached the nominal office of steward. As members of Parliament cannot resign, when they wish to go out they accept this stewardship, which legally vacates their seats.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Chiltern Hundreds.
Examples
-
Then Phineas for the first time expressed an opinion that he would resign his seat — that he would take the Chiltern Hundreds, and retire altogether from public life.
Phineas Redux 2004
-
Apply for the Chiltern Hundreds and retire into public life.
Ulysses James Joyce 1911
-
In 1794 the trial came to a close; the thanks of the House were formally voted to the managers of the impeachment; and when the scene was over Burke applied for the Chiltern Hundreds.
Burke Morley, John 1907
-
A few days later, Peel accepted the Chiltern Hundreds, and after some deliberation allowed himself to be again brought forward for re-election.
The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, Vol. 1 (of 3) 1809-1859 John Morley 1880
-
Then Phineas for the first time expressed an opinion that he would resign his seat -- that he would take the Chiltern Hundreds, and retire altogether from public life.
Phineas Redux 1873
-
Then Phineas for the first time expressed an opinion that he would resign his seat, -- that he would take the Chiltern Hundreds, and retire altogether from public life.
Phineas Redux Anthony Trollope 1848
-
Veneering will accept the Chiltern Hundreds, that the legal gentleman in
Our Mutual Friend Charles Dickens 1841
-
He should have taken the Chiltern Hundreds, and immediately informed them that he had done so.
The Greville Memoirs A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV, Volume 1 (of 3) Charles Greville 1829
-
Vivian, in a feeble, irresolute tone, asked if there was no possibility of his being allowed to decline the place that was offered him, and suggested that he could take a middle course; to avoid voting against his lordship's wishes, he could, and he believed that he would, accept of the Chiltern Hundreds, and go out of parliament for the session.
Tales and Novels — Volume 05 Maria Edgeworth 1808
-
The independent member having taken the Chiltern Hundreds, vacates his seat: a new election comes on directly: the Luttridges are to bring in Freke -- not Harriot's cousin -- they have cut him, -- but her husband, who is now to commence senator: he is to come in for the county, upon condition that Luttridge shall have Freke's borough.
Tales and Novels — Volume 03 Maria Edgeworth 1808
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.