Gentleman Usher
Preserved but no longer current.
A court official belonging to one of four classes, viz.: (1) Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber; these are in closest association with the Sovereign, wait on him at chapel, and conduct him in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain. (2) Gentle- men Ushers Daily Waiters, who are headed by Black Rod (#.v.) and officiate monthly by turns in the Presence Chamber. (3) Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters.
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 “Gentleman Usher” mean?
A court official belonging to one of four classes, viz.: (1) Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber; these are in closest association with the Sovereign, wait on him at chapel, and conduct him in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain. (2) Gentle- men Ushers Daily Waiters, who are headed by Black Rod (#.v.) and officiate monthly by turns in the Presence Chamber. (3) Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters.
Is “Gentleman Usher” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.