petty sessions

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noun English Law.

a court of summary jurisdiction for minor offenses that is held without a jury.

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Words nearby petty sessions

petty cash, Petty-Fitzmaurice, petty jury, petty larceny, petty officer, petty sessions, petulance, petulancy, petulant, petulantly, petunia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use petty sessions in a sentence

On the 25th of November following the magistrates began to sit daily at Petty Sessions.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
I want to find out how to cut my trees, and how to manage my farmers, and how not to make a fool of myself at petty sessions.
A Country Gentleman and his Family|Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant
The city sessions are held every quarter at the Guildhall, and the petty sessions daily at the same place.
A Comprehensive History of Norwich|A. D. Bayne
He adjudicated in petty sessions as a magistrate, and dealt in a summary manner with capital offences, which were very numerous.
The Book of the Bush|George Dunderdale

The new agent, however, is a tough customer, and in his quality of Clerk of Petty Sessions dabbles in legal lore.
Ireland as It Is|Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

British Dictionary definitions for petty sessions

petty sessions

noun

(functioning as singular or plural) another term for magistrates' court

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