An Usher Was a Doorkeeper
An usher shows people to their seats. The Latin behind the word means door, and it names several formal offices.
An usher shows people to their seats in a theatre, church or courtroom. The job description is in the name: Latin *ostium* meant a door, and an *ostiarius* was a doorkeeper. Old French turned it into *ussier*, and English into *usher*. Two formal offices keep the older sense: *Black Rod*, whose full title is Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and *Rouge Croix Pursuivant* among the heralds. Black Rod famously has the Commons door slammed in his face at each State Opening.
- One who shows people in. *A theatre usher.*
- To lead in. *Usher them in.*
- Black Rod — a parliamentary usher. *Black Rod.*
- Usher in — to begin an era. *Usher in change.*
- Latin — *ostium*, a door. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | usher | An usher. |
| Plural | ushers | Ushers. |
| Verb | usher | Usher them in. |
| Female | usherette | An usherette. |
| Latin | ostium | A door. |
- The usher found them seats.Theatre.
- It ushered in a new era.Figurative.
- Ostium means a door.Etymology.
The Black Rod ceremony
- Black Rod summons the Commons to hear the King's Speech
- The Commons door is slammed in his face on approach
- He strikes it three times with his staff to be admitted
- The ritual asserts the Commons' independence from the Crown
- It dates from 1642, when Charles I entered the chamber to arrest members
Anglo-French *usser*, from Old French *uissier*, from Latin *ostiarius*, a doorkeeper, from *ostium*, a door.
Why is the door slammed on Black Rod?
To assert the Commons' independence, recalling Charles I's attempt to arrest members in the chamber in 1642.
What does usher in mean?
To mark the beginning of something, from the image of a doorkeeper leading in what comes next.