Found 2 items, similar to search warrant.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: search warrant search warrant n : a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to search for objects or people involved in the commission of a crime and to produce them in court; the warrant describes the locations where the officials may search
English → English (gcide) Definition: Search warrant Search \Search\, n. [Cf. OF. cerche. See Search, v. t.] The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry; pursuit for finding something; examination. [1913 Webster] Thus the orb he roamed With narrow search, and with inspection deep Considered every creature. --Milton. [1913 Webster] Nor did my search of liberty begin Till my black hairs were changed upon my chin. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] Right of search (Mar. Law), the right of the lawfully commissioned cruisers of belligerent nations to examine and search private merchant vessels on the high seas, for the enemy's property or for articles contraband of war. Search warrant (Law), a warrant legally issued, authorizing an examination or search of a house, or other place, for goods stolen, secreted, or concealed. [1913 Webster] Syn: Scrutiny; examination; exploration; investigation; research; inquiry; quest; pursuit. [1913 Webster] Warrant \War"rant\, n. [OE. warant, OF. warant a warrant, a defender, protector, F. garant, originally a p. pr. pf German origin, fr. OHG. wer[=e]n to grant, warrant, G. gew["a]hren; akin to OFries. wera. Cf. Guarantee.] [1913 Webster] 1. That which warrants or authorizes; a commission giving authority, or justifying the doing of anything; an act, instrument, or obligation, by which one person authorizes another to do something which he has not otherwise a right to do; an act or instrument investing one with a right or authority, and thus securing him from loss or damage; commission; authority. Specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) A writing which authorizes a person to receive money or other thing. [1913 Webster] (b) (Law) A precept issued by a magistrate authorizing an officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, or do other acts incident to the administration of justice. [1913 Webster] (c) (Mil. & Nav.) An official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned officer. See Warrant officer, below. [1913 Webster] 2. That which vouches or insures for anything; guaranty; security. [1913 Webster] I give thee warrant of thy place. --Shak. [1913 Webster] His worth is warrant for his welcome hither. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. That which attests or proves; a voucher. [1913 Webster] 4. Right; legality; allowance. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] Bench warrant. (Law) See in the Vocabulary. Dock warrant (Com.), a customhouse license or authority. General warrant. (Law) See under General. Land warrant. See under Land. Search warrant. (Law) See under Search, n. Warrant of attorney (Law), written authority given by one person to another empowering him to transact business for him; specifically, written authority given by a client to his attorney to appear for him in court, and to suffer judgment to pass against him by confession in favor of some specified person. --Bouvier. Warrant officer, a noncommissioned officer, as a sergeant, corporal, bandmaster, etc., in the army, or a quartermaster, gunner, boatswain, etc., in the navy. Warrant to sue and defend. (a) (O. Eng. Law) A special warrant from the crown, authorizing a party to appoint an attorney to sue or defend for him. (b) A special authority given by a party to his attorney to commence a suit, or to appear and defend a suit in his behalf. This warrant is now disused. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]