Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cabinet \Cab"i*net\ (k[a^]b"[i^]*n[e^]t), n. [F., dim. of cabine
   or cabane. See {Cabin}, n.]
   1. A hut; a cottage; a small house. [Obs.]

            Hearken a while from thy green cabinet, The rural
            song of careful Colinet.              --Spenser.

   2. A small room, or retired apartment; a closet.

   3. A private room in which consultations are held.

            Philip passed some hours every day in his father's
            cabinet.                              --Prescott.

   4. The advisory council of the chief executive officer of a
      nation; a cabinet council.

   Note: 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.

Cabinet \Cab"i*net\, a.
   Suitable for a cabinet; small.

         He [Varnhagen von Ense] is a walking cabinet edition of
         Goethe.                                  --For. Quar.
                                                  Rev.

Cabinet \Cab"i*net\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabineted; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Cabineting}.]
   To inclose [R.] --Hewyt.

Source : WordNet®

cabinet
     n 1: a cupboard-like repository or piece of furniture with doors
          and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
     2: persons appointed by a head of state to head executive
        departments of government and act as official advisers
     3: a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it
        has a lock [syn: {locker}, {storage locker}]
     4: housing for electronic instruments, as radio or television
        [syn: {console}]