Cabinet (kăb&ibreve_;n&ebreve_;t), n. [F., dim. of cabine or cabane. See Cabin, n.] 1. A hut; a cottage; a small house. [Obs.][1913 Webster]
Hearken a while from thy green cabinet,The rural song of careful Colinet.
2. A small room, or retired apartment; a closet.[1913 Webster]
3. A private room in which consultations are held.[1913 Webster]
Philip passed some hours every day in his father's cabinet.
4. The advisory council of the chief executive officer of a nation; a cabinet council.[1913 Webster]
&hand_; In England, the cabinet or cabinet council consists of those privy councilors who actually transact the immediate business of the government. Mozley & W. -- In the United States, the cabinet is composed of the heads of the executive departments of the government, namely, the Secretary of State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, of the Interior, and of Agiculture, the Postmaster-general, and the Attorney-general.[1913 Webster]
5. (a) A set of drawers or a cupboard intended to contain articles of value. Hence: (b) A decorative piece of furniture, whether open like an étagère or closed with doors. See Étagère.[1913 Webster]
6. Any building or room set apart for the safe keeping and exhibition of works of art, etc.; also, the collection itself.[1913 Webster]
Cabinet council. (a) Same as Cabinet, n., 4 (of which body it was formerly the full title). (b) A meeting of the cabinet. -- Cabinet councilor, a member of a cabinet council. -- Cabinet photograph, a photograph of a size smaller than an imperial, though larger than a carte de visite. -- Cabinet picture, a small and generally highly finished picture, suitable for a small room and for close inspection.[1913 Webster]
Cabinet, a. Suitable for a cabinet; small.[1913 Webster]
He [Varnhagen von Ense] is a walking cabinet edition of Goethe.
Cabinet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabineted; p. pr. & vb. n. Cabineting.] To inclose [R.] Hewyt.[1913 Webster]