Chamber practice

Chamber \Cham"ber\, n. [F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched
   roof, in LL. chamber, fr. Gr. ? anything with a vaulted roof
   or arched covering; cf. Skr. kmar to be crooked. Cf.
   {Camber}, {Camera}, {Comrade}.]
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   1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a
      bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.
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   2. pl. Apartments in a lodging house. "A bachelor's life in
      chambers." --Thackeray.
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   3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative
      body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate
      chamber.
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   4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or
      association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of
      Commerce.
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   5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as,
      the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the
      chamber of the eye.
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   6. pl. (Law.) A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts
      business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such
      official business as may be done out of court.
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   7. A chamber pot. [Colloq.]
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   8. (Mil.)
      (a) That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which
          holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from
          the rest of the bore; -- formerly, in guns, made
          smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in
          breech-loading guns.
      (b) A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to
          contain the powder.
      (c) A short piece of ordnance or cannon, which stood on
          its breech, without any carriage, formerly used
          chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades.
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   {Air chamber}. See {Air chamber}, in the Vocabulary.

   {Chamber of commerce}, a board or association to protect the
      interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and
      traders of a city.

   {Chamber council}, a secret council. --Shak.

   {Chamber counsel} or {Chamber counselor}, a counselor who
      gives his opinion in private, or at his chambers, but does
      not advocate causes in court.

   {Chamber fellow}, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum.

   {Chamber hangings}, tapestry or hangings for a chamber.

   {Chamber lye}, urine. --Shak.

   {Chamber music}, vocal or instrumental music adapted to
      performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience
      room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or church.

   {Chamber practice} (Law.), the practice of counselors at law,
      who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in
      court.

   {To sit at chambers}, to do business in chambers, as a judge.
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