oyer and terminer

English

Etymology

From Middle English oier and terminer, oyer and termyner, from Anglo-Norman oyer (“hear”) and terminer (“determine”).

Noun

oyer and terminer (countable and uncountable, plural oyer and terminers or oyers and terminers)

1. (law, archaic) A commission under which a court is empowered to hear and determine a criminal case.
2. (law, archaic) The hearing or trial carried out under such authority.