Legal Dictionary
Main Entry:
courtPronunciation:
'kOrtFunction:
nounEtymology: Old French, enclosed space, royal entourage, court of justice, from Latin
cohort-
cohors farmyard, armed force, retinue
1 a : an official assembly for the administration of justice
: a unit of the judicial branch of government
courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish —U.S. Constitution article III> —see also the JUDICIAL SYSTEM in the back matter b : a session of such a court c usually cap : the Supreme Court of the United States
2 : a place (as a building, hall, or room) for the administration of justice court>
3 : a judge or judges acting in official capacity court> court may neither preside at nor attend the meeting of creditors —J. H. Williamson>
4 usually cap : a legislative body Court of Massachusetts>
5 : a body (as the International Court of Justice) exercising judicial powers over its members or the members of a body represented by it court>—out of court : without a court hearing : by private arrangement out of court>