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.
Ruffier, warden of the House of Detention, dreamed there was a jail delivery on, a general effort to escape from the prison was frustrated.
From The Secret of Dreams by Raizizun, Yacki
Due to the foregoing circumstances, Lanier's jail delivery was eminently successful.
From Overshadowed A Novel by Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)
Indeed, he most successfully protested against the conduct of Henry VI., who held a jail delivery in the bishop's hall.
From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Exeter A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Addleshaw, Percy
Under the old regime, this important power was vested in a single official, and he usually took care to have a general jail delivery in time for the next election.
From The Curious Republic of Gondour, and Other Whimsical Sketches by Twain, Mark
Shortly afterwards a jail delivery enabled him to leave prison.
From Literary Byways by Andrews, William
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.
