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search warrant

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noun Law.
  1. a court order authorizing the examination of a dwelling or other private premises by police officials, as for stolen goods.

Origin of search warrant

First recorded in 1730–40
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for search warrant

Historical Examples

  • There is a search-warrant, too, arrived, and they mean to look him up at Kilgobbin Castle.'

    Lord Kilgobbin

    Charles Lever

  • I'll put you in charge of the case, McNorton, you have the search-warrant already?

    The Green Rust

    Edgar Wallace

  • You went off to the yacht with a search-warrant—did you, Mr. Cooke?

    Freaks of Fortune

    Oliver Optic

  • A search-warrant and a writ of attachment probably did the business in this case.

    'Firebrand' Trevison

    Charles Alden Seltzer

  • What an opportunity I missed by not taking out a search-warrant for his house.

    The Motor Pirate

    George Sidney Paternoster

British Dictionary definitions for search warrant

search warrant

noun
  1. a written order issued by a justice of the peace authorizing a constable or other officer to enter and search premises for stolen goods, drugs, etc
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012