drum ecclesiastic
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The pulpit cushion, often vigorously thumped by what are termed "rousing preachers.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “drum ecclesiastic” mean?
The pulpit cushion, often vigorously thumped by what are termed "rousing preachers.
Is “drum ecclesiastic” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.