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.
As the day set for Rebstock’s trial drew near, rumors were heard of a jail delivery.
From The Mountain Divide by Both, Armand
What cries of joy, what sobs of relief from the saner inmates, as they try to think their new, almost incredible jail delivery!
From Orphans of the Storm by MacMahon, Henry
As they passed the hut the guards lay in blissful sleep, and seeing this the boys rushed in and excitedly told John of the jail delivery and the advisability of giving the alarm.
From The Wonder Island Boys: Treasures of the Island by Finlay, Roger Thompson
A jail delivery meant, they knew, that their stores would be looted, and, under the leadership of Atkinson, they attempted to avert the mischief impending.
From The Mountain Divide by Both, Armand
"There has been a jail delivery at the prison," he said in answer to the "hello" of the desk-sergeant at the other end of the wire.
From Elusive Isabel by Kimball, Alonzo
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.
