husting

English

Etymology

From Middle English husting, from Old English hūsting, borrowed from Old Norse húsþing (“house assembly”), from hús (“house”) + þing (“council, meeting”), equivalent to house +‎ thing. Cognate with Icelandic húsþing (“assembly”).

Noun

husting (plural hustings)

Usually used in the plural (hustings) but with a singular verb.

1. A platform where candidates in an election give speeches.
2. (historical) An assembly, especially one of the retainers of a ruler.
   • 2003, John Hamilton Baker, The Oxford History of the Laws of England: c. 900-1216, page 819:

     In the Anglo-Norman period we hear of a sale of land taking place ‘in the presence of the whole husting of London, in the House of Alfwin son of Leofstan’ and of land deraigned ‘by judgment of the husting’.

Usage notes

The word hustings is used more often than husting, even for a single platform. The word hustings also has a singular sense of an election campaign in general.

Related terms

• hustings
• thing

See also

• folkmoot

Anagrams

• Gutnish, tushing, unsight