Law Dictionary Definitions

brevia anticipantia.See BREVE.[Blacks Law 8th]

brevia amicabilia.See BREVE. [Blacks Law 8th]

brevet officer.See OFFICER(2).[Blacks Law 8th]

brevet (br<<schwa>>-vetorbrev-it). [French] 1.Military law. A commission promoting an officer to a higher rank, esp. during wartime, but without a corresponding pay increase. [Cases: Armed Services  8, 13.1(5). C.J.S. Armed Services § 26.] 2.French law. A privilege or warrant granted by the government to a private person, authorizing a special benefit or the exercise of…

breve (breev orbree-vee), n.[Law Latin] Hist. Writ. • The word brevis meant “short,” and brevia were short writs, unlike charters. Pl. brevia (bree-vee-<<schwa>>). album breve (al-b<<schwa>>m breev orbree-vee). A blank writ; a writ with a blank or omission in it. apertum breve (<<schwa>>-p<<schwa>>r-t<<schwa>>m breev orbree-vee). [Latin “open writ”] An open, unsealed writ. See patent writ…

Bretts and Scots, Laws of the.The customary laws used by the Celtic tribes of Scotland. • Edward I of England purported to abolish the laws in the early 14th century.[Blacks Law 8th]

brethren (breth-r<<schwa>>n), n. pl. Brothers, esp. those considered spiritual kin (such as male colleagues on a court) <my brethren argue in the dissent that my statutory interpretation is faulty>. • The use of this collegial term has naturally dwindled as more women have entered law and esp. into the judiciary. Cf. SISTREN [Blacks Law 8th]

B reorganization.See REORGANIZATION(2). BREPHOTROPHUS brephotrophus (bre-fah-tr<<schwa>>-f<<schwa>>s). [Greek] Civil law. A person who manages institutions that receive and care for poor or abandoned children. • The word is Greek in origin (lit. meaning “one who feeds an infant”) and was used in late Roman law, but it first appeared in English in the 18th century. Pl.…

Brehon law (bree-h<<schwa>>n law).Hist. The ancient system of law in Ireland at the time of its conquest by Henry II. • This law was formally abolished in 1366. — Sometimes spelled Brehon Law. “[T]he Irish were governed by what they called the Brehon law, so stiled from the Irish name of judges, who were denominated…

brehon (bree-h<<schwa>>n).Hist. In Ireland, a judge.[Blacks Law 8th]