husting

noun

hus·​ting

ˈhəstiŋ,

-tēŋ

plural -s

1

: a deliberative assembly or council in early medieval England

especially : one called by a king or other leader

2

a

or hustings plural but singular in construction : a court held in London before the lord mayor, recorder, and sheriffs or aldermen

b

hustings plural but singular in construction or hustings court : a local court in some cities in Virginia

3

or hustings plural but singular in construction : the upper end or dais of the guildhall where the London husting sits

4

a

or hustings plural but singular in construction : a raised platform from which candidates for the British Parliament were formerly nominated and from which they addressed their constituency

b

: the proceedings at a parliamentary election

5

hustings plural but singular or plural in construction

a

: an election platform : stump

the charge … is expected to resound from political hustings throughout the land

—Foreign Policy Bulletin

b

: an act or process of electioneering

an election which has generated far more excitement than the usual off-year hustings

—Saturday Review

the rough give-and-take of the hustings

—Yale Review

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hūsting, from Old Norse hūsthing, from hūs house + thing assembly

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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