black rod (blakrod)

In England, the usher belonging to the order of the Garter, more fully styled gentleman usher of the black rod: so called from the black rod which he carries. He is of the king's chamber and usher of Parliament. His deputy is styled the yeoman usher. They are the official me engers of the House of Lords; and either the gentleman or the yeoman usher summons the Commons to the House of Lords when the royal a ent is given to bills, and also executes orders for the commitment of persons guilty of breach of privilege and contempt. The name is also given to similar functionaries in the legislatures of the Dominion of Canada and other British colonies. black-root (blak'röt), n. 1. Culver's root or Culver's physic, Veronica Virginiea.-2. Ptero caul on pycnostachyum, a perennial herbaceous composite plant of the pine-barrens of the southern United States.