admiralty

American  

[ad-mer-uhl-tee] / ˈæd mər əl ti /

noun

plural

admiralties

1. the office or jurisdiction of an admiral.

2. the officials or the department of state having charge of naval affairs, as in Great Britain.

3. a court dealing with maritime questions, offenses, etc.

4. maritime law.

5. the Admiralty, the official building, in London, of the British commissioners for naval affairs.

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adjective

1. of or relating to admiralty law.

admiralty British  

/ ˈædmərəltɪ /

noun

1. the office or jurisdiction of an admiral

2. 1. jurisdiction over naval affairs

   2. ( as modifier )

      admiralty law

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Etymology

Origin of admiralty

1300–50; Middle English amiralty < Middle French. See admiral, -ty ²

Example Sentences

But the judge questioned whether Congress can strip courts of their own admiralty jurisdiction over a shipwreck, something that has centuries of legal precedent.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

Colonists’ efforts to evade trade restrictions by smuggling were countered with laws that required smugglers be tried in admiralty courts, which lacked a jury.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

His opinions are still the staple of law school casebooks, in subjects as diverse as constitutional law, contracts, torts, copyright, and admiralty.

From Slate • Jul. 19, 2021

He reported his findings in confidence to the British admiralty, but they made their way into a newspaper.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2019

Not until 1930, when a young Washington admiralty lawyer and keen hiker named Myron Avery took over the development of the project, did work actually begin, but suddenly it moved on apace.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson