On Wed, 6 Feb 2002, Stephen Turner wrote:
>
> Chambers dictionary (the best single-volume British dictionary) says it
> does.
>
I just checked in the full Oxford English Dictionary too. Excerpts:
1. = CABBALA 1: The Jewish tradition as to the
interpretation of the Old Testament. Obs.
1616 BULLOKAR, Cabal, the tradition of the Jewes doctrine of
religion. 1660 HOWELL Lex. Tetragl., Words do involve the deepest
Mysteries, By them the Jew into his Caball pries.
2. = CABBALA 2: a. Any tradition or special private
interpretation. b. A secret. Obs.
3. A secret or private intrigue of a sinister character formed by
a small body of persons; `something less than conspiracy' (J.).
1646-7 CLARENDON Hist. Reb. (1702) I. v. 439 The King..asked him,
whether he were engaged in any Cabal concerning the army?
4. A secret or private meeting, esp. of intriguers or of a
faction. arch. or Obs.
5. A small body of persons engaged in secret or private
machination or intrigue; a junto, clique, côterie, party, faction.
--
Stephen Turner, Cambridge, UK http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adelie/stephen/
"This is Henman's 8th Wimbledon, and he's only lost 7 matches." BBC, 2/Jul/01
