My Lord
Preserved but no longer current.
The correct form to use in address- ing Judges of the Supreme Court (usually slurred to "M'Lud"), also the respectful form of address to bishops, noblemen under the rank of a Duke, Lord Mayors, Lord Provosts, and the Lord Advocate.
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 “My Lord” mean?
The correct form to use in address- ing Judges of the Supreme Court (usually slurred to "M'Lud"), also the respectful form of address to bishops, noblemen under the rank of a Duke, Lord Mayors, Lord Provosts, and the Lord Advocate.
Is “My Lord” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.