police court

noun

1. an inferior court with summary jurisdiction for the trial of persons accused of any of certain minor offenses, and with power to examine those charged with more serious offenses and hold them for trial in a superior court or for a grand jury.

police court

noun

1. another name for magistrates' court

2. (in Scotland, formerly) a burgh court with limited jurisdiction, presided over by lay magistrates or a stipendiary magistrate: replaced in 1975 by the district court See also district court

Word History and Origins

Origin of police court¹

First recorded in 1815–25