talesman

noun

tales·​man ˈtālz-mən How to pronounce talesman (audio) ˈtā-lēz- How to pronounce talesman (audio)
1
: a person added to a jury usually from among bystanders to make up a deficiency in the available number of jurors
2
: a member of a large pool of persons called for jury duty from which jurors are selected

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tales talesmen, from Medieval Latin tales de circumstantibus such (persons) of the bystanders; from the wording of the writ summoning them

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of talesman was in 1679

Dictionary Entries Near talesman

taler

talesman

tale-teller

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Talesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talesman. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Legal Definition

talesman

noun
tales·​man ˈtālz-mən, ˈtā-lēz- How to pronounce talesman (audio)
plural talesmen
-mən
: a person summoned as one of the tales added to a jury
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