jail delivery

American  

noun

1. a liberation of persons from prison, especially by force.

2. the act of clearing a jail of prisoners by bringing them to trial, as at the assizes in England.

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jail delivery British  

noun

1. forcible and illegal liberation of prisoners from jail

2. English law (formerly) a commission issued to assize judges when they come to a circuit town authorizing them to try all prisoners and release those acquitted

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Etymology

Origin of jail delivery

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jail delivery

Oshkosh and a number of Menominee headmen went at once to Milwaukee, upon learning of the jail delivery, and laid their complaints before the judge.

From Stories of the Badger State by Thwaites, Reuben Gold

They have never had a jail delivery here, you know.

From The Land of Frozen Suns by Sinclair, Bertrand W.

For the most of us there is no jail delivery of those inner depths, and the life above goes on to its honourable end.

From The New Machiavelli by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

There was a general jail delivery of the poor debtors, for very joy.

From Dealings with the Dead, Volume I (of 2) by School, A Sexton of the Old

Well, who knows, perhaps there may be a general jail delivery there yet; but talking of the thing, I assure you, sir, I feel a portion of its tortures.

From The Black Baronet; or, The Chronicles Of Ballytrain The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William