puisne

American  

[pyoo-nee] / ˈpyu ni /

adjective

1. Law. younger; inferior in rank; junior, as in appointment.

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noun

1. an associate judge as distinguished from a chief justice.

puisne British  

/ ˈpjuːnɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of a subordinate judge) of lower rank

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Etymology

Origin of puisne

1590–1600; < Anglo-French, equivalent to Old French puis after (< Latin posteā ) + ne born, past participle of naistre to be born (< Latin nāscere ); cf. puny

Example Sentences

So he enlisted as butler in the family of a puisne judge.

From Time Magazine Archive

He became Recorder of Bristol in 1735, and a puisne judge of the King's Bench in 1745.

From State Trials Vol. 2 (of 2) Political and Social by Various

The chancery division, therefore, consists of the lord chancellor and six puisne judges.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7 "Cerargyrite" to "Charing Cross" by Various

In 1827 appointed a puisne judge of the King's Bench in Upper Canada.

From The Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History by Various

The supreme court consists of a chief justice and three puisne judges.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various