the Privy Council sitting as a court of equity, esp powerful under the Tudor monarchs; abolished 1641
2. (sometimes not capitals)
any arbitrary tribunal dispensing summary justice
3. (sometimes not capitals)
(in Britain, in a Conservative government) a group of senior ministers who make the final decision on the public spending of each government department
Star Chamber in American English
1.
a royal English court or tribunal abolished in 1641, notorious for its secret sessions without jury, and for its harsh and arbitrary judgments and its use of torture to force confessions
2. [alsos- c-]
any similar tribunal or inquisitorial body
Word origin
ME, earlier Sterred Chambre: said to be so called because the ceiling was ornamented with stars