A house in which a council meets for deliberation; in Scotland and elsewhere, a common name for a town-hall.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 16094 (Trin.). Pilate … ȝede in to þe parlour: Þat was a counsel hous badde.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 181. That none but he be wepenles Shall come into the counseil hous.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxv. 23. Agrippa and Bernice … entrede into the counsell housse with the captaynes.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. v. 38. The subtill Traytor This day had plotted, in the Councell-House, To murther me.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), II. 32. On the west side which faces the cathedral, is the councel-house.
1890. What to see in Birmingham, 6. The Council House.
b. † Counsel-house-man, a town-councillor.
1697. Lond. Gaz., No. 3338/3. Coventry Nov. 1, The Mayor … Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Counsel-House-Men … met at St. Mary’s Hall. Ibid. (1715), No. 5377/1. An humble Address of the Mayor … Aldermen, Sheriffs … Council-house-men … and Inhabitants of the City of Coventry.
