Obs. exc. Hist. [f. LAW sb.1]

1

  1.  The day for the meeting of a court of law, esp. of the sheriff’s court, once in six months, or of the court leet, once a year; hence used for the session of such a court, and the court itself.

2

1235–52.  Rentalia Glaston. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 189. Salvis duobus laghedaghes.

3

1292.  Year-bk. 20 & 21 Edw. I. (Rolls), 339. A deus lauedaues [printed lauedanes] par an.

4

1331.  Lit. Cantuar., 31 Oct. (Rolls), I. 403. Ad exigendum et manutenendum jura … ac etiam Curiam nostram de Godmersham, quæ dicitur Laghe daye, die Veneris proxime sequente.

5

1444.  Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 399. The law dayis eftir Michelmess.

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1467.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 370. That the articles of the yelde aforeseid be redde and declared at the lawday.

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1516.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford, 16. Two tymys yn ye yere to kepe a lawedaye there.

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1535.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 26 § 23. [Lordes marchers] shall have … their Lordshippes Courtis Baron Court letes and Lawedayes.

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1589.  R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1860), 5. I will present you at the law day for a ryot.

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1604.  Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 140. Who ha’s that breast so pure, Wherein vncleanly Apprehensions Keepe Leetes and Law-dayes?

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1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 201. Thirdly, that Thursday should be Court or law-day for deciding controversies.

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1641.  Termes de la Ley, 191. Law-day signifies a Leet or Sheriffes tourne.

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1710.  Hearne, Collect., 23 April (O. H. S.), II. 379. A Lawday of the Dean and Canons of Hereford.

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1890.  Gross, Gild Merch., II. 105. The ‘curia legalis’ (Law-day) was held yearly the Monday next after the feast of St. Hilary.

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  2.  A day appointed for the discharge of a bond, after which the debtor could not at common law be relieved from the forfeiture.

16

1492.  Ryman, Poems, xcii. 6, in Archiv Stud. neu. Spr., LXXXIX. 266. I make an ende within shorte space. I sette no lawe day in the case.

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