Brewer's: Clause

Letter-clause, a close letter sealed with the royal signet or privy-seal, in opposition to letters-patent, which are left open, the seal being attached simply as a legal form (“Clause,” Latin clausus, shut, closed. “Patent,” Latin patens, open.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content