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hustings

(hus′tiŋz)

plural noun

Obsolete
1. a deliberative assembly
2. a court held in various English cities and still occasionally in London
3. the platform in London Guildhall where such a court was formerly held
4. the temporary platform where candidates for Parliament formerly stood for nomination and spoke
the proceedings at an election
any place where political campaign speeches are made
the route followed by a campaigner for political office

Origin: ME husting < OE < ON hūsthing, lit., house council < hūs, a house + thing, assembly (see thing): orig., a lord's household assembly as distinct from a general assembly

See hustings in American Heritage Dictionary 4

plural noun (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

a. A place where political campaign speeches are made: a candidate out on the hustings in the farm belt.
b. The activities involved in political campaigning: a veteran of the hustings.
Chiefly British A court formerly held in some English cities and still held infrequently in London.
Chiefly British
a. A platform on which candidates for Parliament formerly stood to address the electors.
b. The proceedings of a parliamentary election.

Origin:

Origin: From Middle English husting, court of common pleas

Origin: , from Old English hūsting, court

Origin: , from Old Norse hūsthing

Origin: : hūs, house

Origin: + thing, assembly

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