'Petit constable' definitions:
Definition of 'Petit constable'
From: GCIDE
- Petit \Pet"it\ (p[e^]t"[y^]; F. pe*t[-e]"), a. [F. See Petty.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; -- Same as Petty. [Obs., except in legal language.] [1913 Webster]
- By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. --South. [1913 Webster]
- Petit constable, an inferior civil officer, subordinate to the high constable.
- Petit jury, a jury of twelve men, impaneled to try causes at the bar of a court; -- so called in distinction from the grand jury.
- Petit larceny, the stealing of goods of, or under, a certain specified small value; -- opposed to {grand larceny}. The distinction is abolished in England.
- Petit ma[^i]tre. [F., lit., little master.] A fop; a coxcomb; a ladies' man. --Goldsmith.
- Petit serjeanty (Eng. Law), the tenure of lands of the crown, by the service of rendering annually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, a flag, etc.
- Petit treason, formerly, in England, the crime of killing a person to whom the offender owed duty or subjection, as one's husband, master, mistress, etc. The crime is now not distinguished from murder. [1913 Webster]