prize court

American  

noun

1. a court whose function it is to adjudicate on prizes taken in war.

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prize court British  

noun

1. law a court having jurisdiction to determine how property captured at sea in wartime is to be distributed

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Etymology

Origin of prize court

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prize court

Before the captor could take title to a vessel, he would have to bring the ship into port and have it condemned before a prize court, which would determine the lawfulness of the capture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

He then went to the prize court, saw the President, and presented Sir Sidney Smith's note to him.

From At Aboukir and Acre A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

She does not take her captures within the jurisdiction of a prize court.

From New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915 April-September, 1915 by Various

In Japan the matters relating to the organisation and procedure of the prize court, and the matters relating to prize, contraband goods, &c., are regulated by two separate sets of laws....

From Letters to "The Times" upon War and Neutrality (1881-1920) by Holland, Thomas Erskine, Sir

The former was well pleased when he heard the details of the interview with the president of the prize court, and said that he would go up and see him in the morning.

From At Aboukir and Acre A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of Egypt by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)