amende honorable

2 definitions found

amende honorable - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Amende \A`mende"\, n. [F. See Amend.]
     A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Amende honorable. (Old French Law) A species of infamous
        punishment in which the offender, being led into court
        with a rope about his neck, and a lighted torch in his
        hand, begged pardon of his God, the court, etc. In popular
        language, the phrase now denotes a public apology or
        recantation, and reparation to an injured party, for
        improper language or treatment.
        [1913 Webster]

amende honorable - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  AMENDE HONORABLE, English law. A penalty imposed upon a person by way of
  disgrace or infamy, as a punishment for any offence, or for the purpose of
  making reparation for any injury done to another, as the walking into church
  in a white sheet, with a rope about the neck, and a torch in the hand, and
  begging the pardon of God, or the king, or any private individual, for some
  delinquency.
       2.  A punishment somewhat similar to this, and which bore the same
  name, was common in France; it was abolished by the law of the 25th of
  September, 1791. Merlin Rep. de Jur. h.'t.
       3. For the form of a sentence of amende horrorable, see D'Agaesseau,
  Oeuvres, 43 Plaidoyer, tom. 4, p. 246.