court baron

noun

plural courts baron or court barons
: an inferior manorial court presided over by its lord or his steward that had jurisdiction over certain cases (as petty offenses) arising on the manor and affecting its tenants and that was abolished in England in 1867 after having fallen into disuse and was early abolished in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland where it existed briefly

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French court baron, literally, baron's court

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near court baron

Cite this Entry

“Court baron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/court%20baron. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!