The Collaborative International Dictionary
Lynch law \Lynch" law`\n. The act or practice by private persons of inflicting punishment for crimes or offenses, without due process of law.
Note: The term Lynch law is said to be derived from a Virginian named Lynch, who took the law into his own hands. But the origin of the term is very doubtful.
Wiktionary
n. the practice of condemning and punishing a person by mob action without a proper trial
WordNet
n. the practice of punishing people by hanging without due process of law
Usage examples of "lynch law".
If, as has been thought, it was merely the successor of fresh suit and lynch law, /1/ this also is the child of vengeance, even more clearly than the other.
The Lynch law of the present day, as practised in the states of the west and south, may be divided into two different heads: the first is, the administration of it in cases in which the laws of the states are considered by the majority as not having awarded a punishment adequate, in their opinion, to the offence committed.
It may be inquired, how it was that Murel escaped Lynch law under such circumstances This will be easily understood when it is stated that he had MORE THAN A THOUSAND SWORN CONFEDERATES, all ready at a moment’.
If a society left the retaliatory use of force in the hands of individual citizens, it would degenerate into mob rule, lynch law and an endless series of bloody private feuds or vendettas.
Just the kind of place where they think lynch law's the best way of dealing with their difficulties.
Fierce Lynch law, with which no one party had any right to reproach the rest, for it has been applied by the Republic in America, as well as by the monarchy in Europe.
Ferocious Lynch law, with which no party has the right to reproach others, for it is applied by the republic in America as well as by monarchy in Europe.
Lazarus knew from hard experience how close under the skin lay lynch law and mob violence in the most sweetly civilized.