Chiltern hnndreds
Defined in 1 dictionary — Kinney (1893)
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
A tract of country comprising the hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Bonenham, the stewardship of which is a nominal office in the gift of the crown, and given to a member of parliament who wishes to retire, to evade the rule that a member cannot vacate his seat, there being another rule that an acceptance of a crown office has the effect of a vacation.