Wiktionary
alt. A permit once granted to convicts allowing them to leave prison under certain circumstances; used especially of convicts transported to the British colonies n. A permit once granted to convicts allowing them to leave prison under certain circumstances; used especially of convicts transported to the British colonies
WordNet
n. a permit formerly given to convicts allowing them to leave prison under specific restrictions
Usage examples of "ticket-of-leave".
The introduction of the ticket-of-leave and the parole systems, and the earning of time by good behavior were philanthropic suggestions and promising experiments which have not been justified by the results.
Worthy, it seemed, had been given a ticket-of-leave, and was being held in the back room of the post office under the ancient statute of durance vile.