lynch law

the lawless practice of killing by lynching

Origin: formerly Lynch's law, after Capt. W. Lynch (1742-1820), member of a vigilance committee in Pittsylvania, Virginia (1780)

See lynch law in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
The practice of lynching: “the injustices suffered by black citizens—disfranchisement, lynch law and mob rule” (Scot French).

Origin:

Origin: Probably after Charles Lynch (1736-1796), American militiaman and justice of the peace who held summary extralegal trials and whippings of supposed Tory sympathizers in Virginia during the American Revolution

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