noun an ancient high court exercising jurisdiction in certain cases, 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.
STAR-CHAMBER
Meaning of STAR-CHAMBER in English
Webster English vocab. Английский словарь Webster. 2012