previous question

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre′vious ques′tion, [Parl. Proc.]

1. Government a move that a vote be taken at once on a main question, used esp. as a means of cutting off further debate.

• 1690–1700

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

previous question noun

1. (in the House of Commons) a motion to drop the present topic under debate, put in order to prevent a vote
2. (in the House of Lords and US legislative bodies) a motion to vote on a bill or other question without delay

See also closure4