DCHP-1 Online
Compact Hist. 
1 n. the name applied to the governing class in Upper Canada prior to 1837, and in particular to the executive and legislative councils of that province.
See also: Family Compact (def. 1)
- 1823 A vast column of innoxious vapour has issued from the "Compact" through the Observer last week. . . .
- 1903 A farmer living near Oshawa, being the son of a United Empire Loyalist, seemed to have all the Compact's hate and suspicion centred upon him, simply because his father came from Massachusetts.
- 1956 The whole affair raised such a stench / That even Compact noses swore / They'd never sniffed the like before. . . .
2 n. a group, dominated by officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, that controlled the Crown Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia in the 1850's under the governship of Sir James Douglas.
See also: Family-Company-Compact
- 1859 Latterly, however, though with a few exceptions chiefly under Compact influence . . . it has shown a disposition to meet the wants of the people . . . and answer the end of its institution.
- 1823 A vast column of innoxious vapour has issued from the "Compact" through the Observer last week. . . .