![]() ![]() This is how the French term for “King’s Attorney” or attornus regis was modified as attorney general. England was taken over by the Normans in the 11th century and Anglo-Norman French was the popular language spoken among the rich and powerful. The word attorney general has its roots in the Anglo-Norman system of government. Here are a few such words, their origins and histories. We often use them without always knowing their origins, legal significance or the linguistic and cultural history they embody. Law is a part of our daily lives and words having significance in the legal world have pervaded everyday speech in the English language. Several centuries later, this phrase is still relevant, though it is not necessarily about catching people with blood-soaked hands. The expression “caught red-handed” has its origins in 15th century Scottish laws where it was mandatory to find a person with blood on his hands in order to ascertain if he had killed another person’s livestock. JITHENDRA PALEPU looks into the world of law and language. While most of our legal language is built upon foundations laid by the West, it is time to examine and see if it can be made more Indian. Before you raise a hue and cry over an accused who has blackmailed you and ask for third-degree to be applied to him, it would be in order to know the origins and stories behind these common legal expressions. ![]()
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