Definitions from Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition and Ballentine's Law Dictionary as are available for each term in each dictionary.
  • Ballentine's Law Dictionary

    An ecclesiastical court for the trial of religious offenses.

  • Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition

    In English ecclesiastical law. A court or assembly, comprising all the high officials of each province and representatives of the minor clergy. It is in the nature of an ecclesiastical parliament; and, so far as its judicial functions extend, it has jurisdiction of cases of heresy, schism, and other purely ecclesiastical mat-tera An appeal lies to the king in council.