In English law. A title of dignity next above gentleman, and below knight.Also a title of oflice given to sheriffs, serjeants, and barristers at law, justices of thepeace, and others. 1 Bl. Comm. 406; 3 Steph. Comm. 15, note; Tomlins. On the use ofthis term in American law, particularly as applied to justices of the peace and otherinferior judicial officers, see Call v. Foresman, 5 Watts (I>a.) 331; Christian v. AshleyCounty, 24 Ark. 151; Com. v. Vance, 15 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 37.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
