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Bertillon system

[ bur-tl-on sis-tuhm ]

noun

  1. a system of identifying persons, especially criminals, by a record of individual physical measurements and peculiarities: fingerprinting soon supplanted the Bertillon system as the primary identifying technique in forensic science:

    The suspect’s facial measurements, taken and assessed through the Bertillon system, were used to prove her guilt, even though she had a very sound alibi.



Bertillon system

/ ˈbɜːtɪˌlɒn; bɛrtijɔ̃ /

noun

  1. a system formerly in use for identifying persons, esp criminals, by means of a detailed record of physical characteristics
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Bertillon system1

First recorded in 1895–1900; named after A. Bertillon
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Bertillon system1

C19: named after Alphonse Bertillon (1853–1914), French criminal investigator
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Example Sentences

The Bertillon system of measurements is used by the service, as well as a plain indexed card system.

The Bertillon system, while a splendid thing for catching the thief, still left some loop-holes which needed strengthening.

In the Bertillon System the metric measurement is used exclusively.

The Bertillon system of identification—what is it but a summary of trivialities?

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