petty sessions

noun

A lower-level, local court in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and several Commonwealth countries that handled minor, summary offenses without a jury.

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Meanings

nounpetty sessions pl (normally plural, singular petty session)

singular petty session

  1. UKhistoricalplural normallylawA lower-level, local court in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and several Commonwealth countries that handled minor, summary offenses without a jury.
Cite this entry
APA

petty sessions. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petty%20sessions

MLA

“petty sessions.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petty%20sessions. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “petty sessions,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petty%20sessions.

Source: petty sessions on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.