English Explanatory Dictionary

Lord Privy Seal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. The fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, the position is now considered to be sinecure.
adj
  1. Of images, that match words too closely or in an overly literal manner.

Word forms

Lord Privy Seal more Lord Privy Seal most Lord Privy Seal

Etymology

From a sketch on the British satire show The Frost Report in the 1960s, poking fun at the television broadcasting practice of displaying images on screen to accompany spoken monologues. In the sketch, the words Lord Privy Seal in a news report are illustrated with a photo of a lord, photo of an privy (outhouse), and photo of a seal (pinniped) balancing a ball on its nose.

Synonyms

Keeper of the Privy Seal Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
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