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

/ bɛrtijɔ̃; ˈbɜːtɪˌlɒn /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bertillon system¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; named after A. Bertillon

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bertillon system¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

In the Bertillon System the metric measurement is used exclusively.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg