3. Any of four sets of buildings in London (known collectively as the Inns of Court) owned by the legal associations to which all barristers in England and Wales must belong; any of the four legal associations which own these buildings. Also (esp. in earlier use): any of a number of buildings in London (known collectively as the Inns of Chancery) formerly used as a place of residence, work, and study by clerks of chancery and students of law, and (in later use) by solicitors and attorneys.Earliest in Inn of Court n. at Phrases 2a(a). See also Inn of Chancery n. at Phrases 2b.In earlier use sometimes used indiscriminately to refer to any of either the Inns of Court or the Inns of Chancery.The Inns of Court comprise the Inner Temple, the Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn, and were established in the early 14th cent. Formerly they were the place where barristers lodged, trained, and conducted their work. They no longer provide all the training required by prospective barristers, but continue to be a centre of the legal profession. The sites now consist largely of offices, as well as providing libraries, dining facilities, and temporary accommodation for their members.The Inns of Chancery are thought to have developed around the Inns of Court. The name reflects their early use by clerks of chancery. Until the mid 17th cent., trainee barristers would begin their education at an Inn of Chancery before moving to an associated Inn of Court. After that period, the Inns of Chancery served primarily as accommodation and offices for solicitors and attorneys. From the mid 18th cent. onwards their importance declined, and all the buildings have now been sold for other purposes or demolished.Recorded earlier in the names of each of the Inns, e.g.:

1396 Inquisition Post Mortem (P.R.O.: C 136/88/29) m. 8 De Manerio suo de Portpole in Holburne vocato Greysyn.

1427 in W. P. Baildon Black Bks. (Rec. Soc. Lincoln's Inn) (1897) I. 2 Lyncolnesyn.

1436 in W. P. Baildon Black Bks. (Rec. Soc. Lincoln's Inn) (1897) I. 6 The felaweshippe of Lyncoll' Ynne.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxlii^v At whiche feast wer made ten Serieauntes, three out of Greyes Inne, and three out of Lyncolnes Inne, and of euery of the Temples twoo.

1663 J. Heath Hist. Cromwell ii. 5 He was presently removed..to Lincolns-Inne; where he might with lesse imputation..royster it out.]

4. In the Medieval period: a lodging house or residence for students at Oxford or Cambridge universities. Now historical.Recorded earlier in the names of such residences, e.g.:

1346 Patent Roll, 20 Edward III, Part 2 5 Aug. (P.R.O.: C 66/217) m. 7 Preposito & scholaribus domus beate Marie Oxon...de quodam mesuagio suo vocato Takeleysyn.

1438 in H. Anstey Munimenta Academica Oxf. (1868) II. 521 Hæc sunt nomina Principalium aularum..Principalis aulæ Bekys-yne,..Newels-yne,..Pekwater-yne,..Takleys-yne.

1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. ii. vi. f. 80^v in R. Holinshed Chron. I There are also in Oxforde certayne Hostelles or Halles..Brodegates. Hart hall..S. Mary hall. White hall. New Inne. Edmond hall.]

This use was preserved in the name New Inn Hall, Oxford until the 19th cent.

†b. at inn (also inns): lodged, housed, resident, staying as a guest; (in earlier use) at home. Also in figurative contexts (esp. in later use). Obsolete.

inn-house n. now rare an establishment which provides accommodation, refreshment, and hospitality for paying guests, esp. travellers; (also) the building in which such an establishment is based (cf. sense 2a(a)).

inn law n. now historical a law or custom typical of or prevailing at an inn (sense 2a(a)).

inn-phrase n. now rare and historical a phrase or expression typical of or likely to be heard at an inn (sense 2a(a)).

inn stable n. now somewhat archaic a stable belonging to an inn (sense 2a(a)).

inn-like adj. (and adv.) typical or reminiscent of an inn (sense 2a(a)); likely to be found or experienced in an inn; (also) in the manner of an inn.