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.
"There's the True Blue put on extra to-day for the jail delivery," he remarked.
From Highway Pirates or, The Secret Place at Coverthorne by Avery, Harold
They have never had a jail delivery here, you know.
From The Land of Frozen Suns by Sinclair, Bertrand W.
Threats of a jail delivery there had been, and a noisy parade as well, but nothing had occurred or promised beyond the power of an active local officer to handle.
From Short Stories of Various Types by Freck, Laura F.
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
"Why, it's the jail delivery off to Botany Bay," was the answer.
From Highway Pirates or, The Secret Place at Coverthorne by Avery, Harold
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.
