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Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. "My council is my shield." Shak.

mainly criminal, which sat without the intervention of a jury. It consisted of the king's council, or of the privy council only with the addition of certain judges. It could proceed on mere rumor or examine witnesses; it could apply torture. It was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641. Encyc. Brit.…

R.] I myself, though meanest stated, And in court now almost hated. Wither. Who calls the council, states the certain day. Pope.

The fast of the fourth and sixth days of the week, Wednesday and Friday, in memory of the council which condemned Christ, and of his passion.

superintends the building of a ship or the construction of a fort. The king may appoint a council, who may superintend the works of this nature. Bacon.

The council of, probably, 120 members among the Jews, first appointed after the return from the Babylonish captivity; -- called also the Great Synagogue, and sometimes, though erroneously, the Sanhedrin.

The office or jurisdiction of a syndic; a council, or body of syndics. Bp. Burnet.

An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.

Tapestry; formerly, the cover of a council table. On, or Upon, the tapis, on the table, or under consideration; as, to lay a motion in Parliament on the tapis.

hall or building, belonging to a town, where the public offices are established, the town council meets, the people assemble in town meeting, etc.

To escape from secrecy; to become public; as, the proceedings of the council soon transpired. The story of Paulina's and Maximilian's mutual attachment had transpired through many of the travelers. De Quincey.

Of or pertaining to Trent, or the general church council held in that city.

discordant or dissentient; harmonious; as, the assembly was unanimous; the members of the council were unanimous. "Both in one faith unanimous." Milton.

A councilor of state; a high executive officer in Turkey and other Oriental countries. [Written also visier, vizir, and vizer.] Grand vizier, the chief minister of the Turkish empire; -- called also vizier-azem.

the members of the national, or king's, council which sat to assist the king in administrative and judicial matters; also, the council.

A meeting of wise men; the national council, or legislature, of England in the days of the Anglo-Saxons, before the Norman Conquest.