[f. STATE sb. + HOUSE sb. Prob. suggested by Du. stathuis (now stadhuis) STADTHOUSE.]
† 1. a. A house of state; a building appropriated to state-ceremonies. b. = SENATE HOUSE 1. Obs.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 65 b. Humaine writers haue theyr vse of reprouing vices, as well as the Scriptures. It is an easie matter to prayse God, in that wherein hee hath placed the especiall state-house of his praises.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. xxiii. § 4. 574. Pacuuius in Capua … lockt the Senators vp within the State-house, and offered their liues to the Peoples mercie.
† 2. A town hall; = STADTHOUSE. Obs.
1627. Bp. Hall, Apol. agst. Brownists, § 9. Wks. (1628), 578. Is it no Citie, if there be mud-walles halfe-broken, low Cottages vnequally built, no State-house?
1634. Brereton, Trav. (Chetham Soc.), 19. Delph hath … the finest state-house said to be in all the seventeen provinces.
1686. Col. Laws N. York, I. 182. The Citty Hall or State House with the Ground thereunto belonging.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, Lett. & Jrnls. (1884), 111. The State-house [at Amsterdam] you have seen a print of.
3. a. In some of the North American colonies before 1776, the building in which the public affairs of the colony or province were transacted. Also applied to the building used by an Indian tribe for its deliberative assemblies. Obs. exc. Hist.
1639. in Virginia Mag. (1896), III. 30. A Levye likewyse by his maties commands is raised for the building of a State howse at James Cittie.
1654. E. Johnson, Wonder-wrkg. Provid., 109. The Indian King … gathered together his chiefe Counsellors, and … afterward gave them Audience, in a State-house, round, about fifty foot wide, made of long poles stuck in the ground.
1662. Archives of Maryland, I. 434. The Vpper howse took into Consideracion the place for the Seateing of the State howse.
1709. J. Lawson, New Voy. Carolina, 37. In these [Indian] State-Houses is transacted all Publick and Private Business, relating to the Affairs of the Government.
1725. New Hampsh. St. Papers, XVIII. 1. The sd Dishonour and Inconv[en]ience may both be remedyed by building a State house for holding the sd General Assemy and Courts.
1770. J. Adams, Diary, 13 July, Wks. 1850, II. 247. This Tilton’s is just behind the State House.
b. U.S. The building in which the legislature of a State of the Union has its sessions; a State capitol.
1786. E. Watson, Men & Times Revol. (1861), 282. The State House, the Capitol of Maryland.
a. 1817. T. Dwight, Trav. New Eng., etc. (1821), I. 495. The State-house [at Boston, Mass.], which stands on the Eastern side of Beacon Hill has a most noble and commanding position.
1908. W. Churchill, Mr. Crewe’s Career, ix. 134. I’ll call in on you at the state-house day after to-morrow.
c. attrib.
1671. Rec. N. Amsterdam, VI. 308. The Stone Well in the State-House-Yard.
1830. O. W. Holmes, Dorchester Giant, 10. Then he brought them a pudding … As big as the State-House dome.
1908. W. Churchill, Mr. Crewe’s Career, xi. 167. Austen took his way slowly across the state-house park.
