5 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

lawyer

noun: a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice [syn: {attorney}]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Lawyer \Law"yer\, noun [From {Law}, like bowyer, fr. bow.]

1. One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients, or to advise as to prosecution or defence of lawsuits, or as to legal rights and obligations in other matters. It is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and advocates.

2. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The black-necked stilt. See {Stilt}. (b) The bowfin ({Amia calva}). (c) The burbot ({Lota maculosa}).

{Philadelphia lawyer}, A lawyer knowledgeable about the most detailed and minute points of law, especially one with an exceptional propensity and ability to exploit fine technical points of law for the client's advantage. [PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Stilt \Stilt\, noun [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta, LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E. stout.]

1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm.

Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked. --Landor.

2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.

3. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to {Himantopus} and allied genera, in which the legs are remarkably long and slender. Called also {longshanks}, {stiltbird}, {stilt plover}, and {lawyer}.

Note: The American species ({Himantopus Mexicanus}) is well known. The European and Asiatic stilt ({H. candidus}) is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars, which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt ({H. leucocephalus}) and the banded stilt ({Cladorhynchus pectoralis}) are found in Australia.

{Stilt plover} (Zo["o]l.), the stilt.

{Stilt sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), an American sandpiper ({Micropalama himantopus}) having long legs. The bill is somewhat expanded at the tip.

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

LAWYER, noun One skilled in circumvention of the law.

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

Lawyer among the Jews, was one versed in the laws of Moses, which he expounded in the schools and synagogues (Matt. 22:35; Luke 10:25). The functions of the "lawyer" and "scribe" were identical. (See {DOCTOR}.)
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