What is "chamber practice"

Chamber \Cham"ber\, n. [F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in LL. chamber, fr. Gr. ? anything with a vaulted roof or arched covering; cf. Skr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera, Comrade.]

1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.

2. pl. Apartments in a lodging house. ``A bachelor's life in chambers.''
   --Thackeray.

3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber.

4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce.

5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eye.

6. pl. (Law.) A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done out of court.

7. A chamber pot. [Colloq.]

8. (Mil.)

   1. That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; -- formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns.

   2. A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the powder.

   3. A short piece of ordnance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades.

      Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the Vocabulary.

      Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and traders of a city.

      Chamber council, a secret council.
      --Shak.

      Chamber counsel or Chamber counselor, a counselor who gives his opinion in private, or at his chambers, but does not advocate causes in court.

      Chamber fellow, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum.

      Chamber hangings, tapestry or hangings for a chamber.

      Chamber lye, urine.
      --Shak.

      Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or church.

      Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in court.

      To sit at chambers, to do business in chambers, as a judge.