petit treason

or pet·ty trea·son

[ pet-ee tree-zuhn ]

noun

, English Law.

1. the killing of a husband by his wife, of a lord by his servant, or of an ecclesiastic by a subordinate ecclesiastic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of petit treason¹

Borrowed into English from Anglo-French around 1490–1500

Example Sentences

In 1857, the North Carolina Supreme Court coined the term “petit treason” to describe any act of self-defense by enslaved Americans who’d been attacked or abused by their owners, which in turn would offer legal protection for all manner of torture against those who tried to defend themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

Petit treason was defined by statute and included a servant slaying his master, a wife her husband, or a man his lord, to whom was owed faith and obedience.

From Project Gutenberg

Reflections applicable to public and private Crimes.—The dangers arising from the progress of immorality to the safety of the State.—The leading offences made capital by the laws of England-29- considered, with the Punishment allotted to each; compared with, and illustrated by, the custom of other countries, in similar cases, both ancient and modern: namely, High Treason—Petit Treason:—Felonies against Life, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

I cannot say I had as much tolerance for the patriotism of Miss Bayard as I had for the petit treason of my sister.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not till the year 1790 that women ceased to be liable to be burnt alive for high or for petit treason, and Blackstone found nothing to say against it.

From Project Gutenberg