quo warranto
[kwoh waw-ran-toh, wo-]
- (formerly, in England) a writ calling upon a person to show by what authority he or she claims an office, franchise, or liberty.
- (in England and the U.S.) a trial, hearing, or other legal proceeding initiated to determine by what authority one has an office, franchise, or liberty.
- the pleading initiating such a proceeding.
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Origin of quo warranto
1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin quō warrantō by what warrant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
quo warranto
- law a proceeding initiated to determine or (formerly) a writ demanding by what authority a person claims an office, franchise, or privilege
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Word Origin
from Medieval Latin: by what warrant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for quo warranto
Medieval Latin, literally "by what warrant," from quo "from, with, or by whom or what?," ablative of interrogative pronoun quis "who?" (see who).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper