Chiltern Hundreds

plural noun

Chil·​tern Hundreds

ˌchiltə(r)n-

: a nominal appointment granted by the British crown that serves as a legal fiction to enable a member of Parliament to relinquish his or her seat

Word History

Etymology

from Chiltern Hundreds, three hundreds in the Chiltern hills of England appointment to the stewardship of which is a disqualification for membership in Parliament

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