Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A box or case with a lock that is used for carrying dispatches (“important official messages”) and other documents.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: dispatch case, ministerial box
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A box that is placed on a table in a legislative debating chamber and used as a lectern for addressing the legislature.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Commonwealth
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
case consisting of an oblong container (usually having a lock) for carrying dispatches or other valuables
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: dispatch case
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: case
History
From dispatch (“important official message sent by a diplomat, government official, military officer, etc.”) + box. Sense 2 (“box placed on a table in a legislative debating chamber and used as a lectern”) is from the fact that in the Parliament of the United Kingdom dispatch boxes used by ministers and other Members of Parliament to carry important documents (sense 1) were formerly used as lecterns; these have generally been replaced by cases, usually made of wood, specifically made to be used as lecterns.
Across languages
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
