penal

3 definitions found

penal - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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 penal
         act or 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 prohibiting
        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]

penal - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  penal
      adj 1: of or relating to punishment; "penal reform"; "penal
             code"
      2: serving as or designed to impose punishment; "penal
         servitude"
      3: subject to punishment by law; "a penal offense" [syn:
         penal, punishable]

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

  PENAL. That which may be punished; that which inflicts a punishment.