jail delivery
Americannoun
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a liberation of persons from prison, especially by force.
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the act of clearing a jail of prisoners by bringing them to trial, as at the assizes in England.
noun
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forcible and illegal liberation of prisoners from jail
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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
Etymology
Origin of jail delivery
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
The wholesale jail delivery did not occur until well along into 1915.
From The Iron Heel by London, Jack
"Why, it's the jail delivery off to Botany Bay," was the answer.
From Highway Pirates or, The Secret Place at Coverthorne by Avery, Harold
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
In fact, to tell the whole truth, there was a jail delivery week ago, which has been kept secret up to now.
From The Airplane Boys among the Clouds or, Young Aviators in a Wreck by Langworthy, John Luther
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
