oyer and terminer

[ tur-muh-ner ]

noun

, Law.

1. (in some U.S. states) any of various higher criminal courts.
2. British.
   1. a commission or writ directing the holding of a court to try offenses.
   2. the court itself.

oyer and terminer

/ ˈtɜːmɪnə /

noun

1. English law (formerly) a commission issued to judges to try cases on assize. It became obsolete with the abolition of assizes and the setting up of crown courts in 1972
2. the court in which such a hearing was held
3. (in the US) a court exercising higher criminal jurisdiction

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyer and terminer¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Anglo-French: literally, to hear and determine

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyer and terminer¹

C15: from Anglo-Norman, from oyer to hear + terminer to judge