apostles

1 definition found

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

  APOSTLES. In the British courts of admiralty, when a party appeals from a
  decision made against him, he prays apostles from the judge, which are brief
  letters of dismission, stating the case, and declaring that the record will
  be transmitted. 2 Brown's Civ. and Adm. Law, 438; Dig. 49. 6.
       2. This term was used in the civil law. It is derived from apostolos, a
  Greek word, which signifies one sent, because the judge from whose sentence
  an appeal was made, sent to the superior judge these letters of dismission,
  or apostles. Merl. Rep. mot Apotres.