Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of disposing judicially of the cases of all accused persons detained in a prison and awaiting trial.
- noun In English law, the short name of the commission issued to judges of assize, directing them to clear a jail by thus trying, and acquitting or condemning, the inmates.
- noun Hence In England, and also in Delaware (U. S.), the court charged with the trial of ordinary criminal cases. See
assize , 6. - noun The act of setting prisoners loose from a jail; a freeing of imprisoned persons, as by breaking into or out of a jail.
Etymologies
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Examples
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On the other hand, it was held that a simultaneous jail-delivery all over the land would have immense psychological influence on the proletariat.
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Ratcliffe, among other escapes from justice, was released by the Porteous mob when under sentence of death; and he was again under the same predicament, when the Highlanders made a similar jail-delivery in 1745.
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At the next jail-delivery he was tried, and the jury did their duty.
Mary Anerley Richard Doddridge 2004
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The duke not thinking himself so successful as he at first imagined he should be, greatly augmented his forces; ordered the bands of ruffians, belonging to the monks, should join him; and commanded, that a general jail-delivery should take place, provided the persons released would bear arms, and form themselves into light companies, to assist in the extermination of the Waldenses.
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He was again imprisoned for _incivisme_, during the Reign of Terror, and did not recover his liberty until the general jail-delivery which followed the death of Robespierre.
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The resident judge holds civil courts as in England during the several terms, and criminal courts of general jail-delivery every month.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 55, No. 340, February, 1844 Various
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It's good we caught them in time or they'd of been a hell of a big jail-delivery
Tramping on Life An Autobiographical Narrative Harry Kemp 1921
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Miss Murdstone made a jail-delivery of her pocket-handkerchief, and held it before her eyes.
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Miss Murdstone made a jail-delivery of her pocket-handkerchief, and held it before her eyes.
David Copperfield Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 1917
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"I've been through b'iler explosions and snowslides, not to mention a triflin 'jail-delivery, but fer real sprightly diversions I don't recall nothin' more pleasin 'than this."
The Spoilers Rex Ellingwood Beach 1913
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