- Penal servitude
- Penal Pe"nal, a. [L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F.
p['e]nal. See {Pain}.]
Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes
and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as:
(a) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue;
the penal code.
(b) Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a
penalact of offense.
(c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment;
as, a penal colony or settlement. ``Adamantine chains and
penal fire.'' --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
{Penal code} (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment.
{Penal laws}, {Penal statutes} (Law), laws prohibited certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them.
{Penal servitude}, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison, in lieu of transportation. [Great Brit.]
{Penal suit}, {Penal action} (Law), a suit for penalties. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.