speech-house Now Hist.
[OE. sprǽch{uacu}s (f. sprǽc speech n.1), = OS. sprâk-hûs, OHG. sprâh-hûs (MHG. sprâch-hûs).]
A hall, room, or building set apart for speech, conference, etc.; a court-house; † a monastic parlour.
Retained in the place-name Speech-house-Road in the Forest of Dean, Glouc.
| c 1050 Suppl. ælfric's Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 184 Auditorium, spræchus. Ibid., Curia, uel senatus, uþwitena spræchus. c 1205 Lay. 13036 Þe abbed hit him uðe, & he hine ladde to spæc-huse. Ibid. 13123 Whet Vortiger þencheð in ure spæc-huse þer he spel haldeð. 1640 W. Somner Antiq. Canterbury 126 Aforetime it [the Guildhall] was commonly called and knowne by the name of the Speech-house. 1799 Hasted Hist. Kent IV. 426. 1838 Dean Forest Mines Act ¶54 A copy of all the rules [etc.] to be hung in the Speech House within the said Forest. |