Huissier

The chain of a huissier in the French Senate. Note also the peculiar "broken collar".

The French word huissier comes from huis, an archaic term for a door. The word huissier thus designates two professions that originally had to do with opening and closing doors.

In French government ministries and Parliament, a huissier, which can be translated as usher, is an employee who provides general service to the minister or assembly (transmitting messages, ensuring that doors are closed or open appropriately, handling ballot boxes, etc.). Traditionally, they wear a chain around the neck, because their original function was to lock and unlock doors.

There is some debate that the demonym for people from the U.S. state of Indiana, Hoosier, is derived from the word huissier.

See also

• Aegis
• Huissier de justice
• Neck order
• Chain of office
• Doorman
• Footman
• Usher
• Hospitality
• Protocol (diplomacy)
• Meet and Greet