The Collaborative International Dictionary
Privy \Priv"y\, a. [F. priv['e], fr. L. privatus. See Private.]
Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; private; as, the privy purse. `` Privee knights and squires.''
--Chaucer.Secret; clandestine. `` A privee thief.''
--Chaucer.Appropriated to retirement; private; not open to the public. `` Privy chambers.''
--Ezek. xxi. 1-
4. Admitted to knowledge of a secret transaction; secretly cognizant; privately knowing.
His wife also being privy to it.
--Acts v. 2.Myself am one made privy to the plot.
--Shak.Privy chamber, a private apartment in a royal residence.
Privy council (Eng. Law), the principal council of the sovereign, composed of the cabinet ministers and other persons chosen by the king or queen.
--Burrill.Privy councilor, a member of the privy council.
Privy purse, moneys set apart for the personal use of the monarch; also, the title of the person having charge of these moneys. [Eng.]
--Macaulay.Privy seal or Privy signet, the seal which the king uses in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or which he uses in matters of subordinate consequence which do not require the great seal; also, elliptically, the principal secretary of state, or person intrusted with the privy seal. [Eng.]
Privy verdict, a verdict given privily to the judge out of court; -- now disused.
--Burrill.
Wikipedia
A Privy chamber was the private apartment of a royal residence in England. The gentlemen of the Privy chamber were servants to the Crown who would wait and attend on the King and Queen at court during their various activities, functions and entertainments.
Six of these gentlemen were appointed by the Lord Chamberlain, together with a peer, and the Master of the Ceremonies, to publicly attend to all foreign ambassadors. Their institution was owed to King Henry VII. As a singular mark of favour, they were empowered to execute the King's verbal command without producing any written order; their person and character being deemed sufficient authority.
Usage examples of "privy chamber".
Chade bowed again, perhaps a bit more stiffly than he had the first time, and retreated by way of the privy chamber.
On the fourth side was a privy chamber perched above a sewer chute that dropped straight down into the lake.
Chade paused to peer and listen to be sure there were no witnesses, then admitted us to a privy chamber, and from there to the Queen’.
Chade paused to peer and listen to be sure there were no witnesses, then admitted us to a privy chamber, and from there to the Queen's sitting room, where Kettricken awaited us.
In the Brother-Leader's Palace Apartment Axis retrieved his axe from the antechamber outside the Privy Chamber and fell into step behind Jayme and Moryson, his anger and resentment at Jayme s decision increasing with every stride.
He sat at the great circular table in the Privy Chamber, and about him sat Crest-Leaders, Princes, Chieftains, Enchanters and, halfway around the table from him, the StarMan himself, the Enchantress by his side.