Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ADJOURNAL, n. Sc. usage in phrs. Acs of Adjournal, Books of Adjournal, the records and regulations of the High Court of Justiciary (Sc. 1730 W. Forbes Institutes II. 226).Sc. 1797 D. Hume Punishment of Crimes I. xli.:
Having gone over the whole series of the Books of Adjournal. Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 109:
The books of Adjournal are analogous to the books of Sederunt of the Court of Session. The power of the Court of Justiciary to pass acts of adjournal regulating the procedure of the court is conferred by 1672, c.16. Sc. 1904 A. Anderson Criminal Law 227:
The days of the meeting of the various circuits are fixed by Acts of Adjournal.
[O.Sc. act of adjurnall, 1498, from Eng. adjourn, †to cite one to a court on a certain day.]