[a. F. clôture:—OF. closture:—L. claustūra, a variant of clausūra, influenced by claustr-um, or by the more numerous words in -tūra: see -URE.] The French word for the action of closing, applied (among other things) to the closing of a debate in the French Assembly by will of a majority. Thence sometimes applied to the CLOSURE in the British House of Commons at its first proposal, and (by opponents) after its introduction in 1882.
1871. Edin. Rev., Jan., 74. Before the establishment of the cloture in the French Chamber, the debates were ‘protracted indefinitely.’
1881. Spectator, 22 Jan., 108. Might not an unscrupulous party chief … use the cloture to arrest necessary discussion.
1882. Standard, 11 Nov., 5/1. The spirit which finds its expression in the Clôture is identical with that which animates the Caucus.
Hence Cloture v. trans. and intr. (colloq.)
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 2 Sept., 8/1. To try his hand at cloturing upon the new Irish party.
1887. Shaw Lefevre, in Ho. Comm. (Daily News, 10 March, 3/3). The shutting out of all subsequent amendments to the one clotured.
1887. Col. Nolan, ibid. (Pall Mall Gaz., 24 May, 11/1). You are cloturing us in order to make a Whitsun holiday!
