Eavesdropping
Defined in 5 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889), Burrill (1850)
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
In English criminal law. The offense of listening under wills or windows, or the eaves of a house, to hearken after discourse, and thereupon to frame slanderous and mischievous tales. 4 Bl. Comm. 168. It is a misdemeanor at common law, indictable at sessions, and punishable by fine and finding sureties for good behavior. Id.; Steph. Crim. Law, 109. See 3 Head. 300,
A Dictionary of Law
William C. Anderson · 1889
The nuisance of hanging about the dwelling-house of another, hearing tattle, and repeating it to the disturbance of the neighborhood. * Eaves-droppers. Such as listen under walls or windows, or the eaves of a house, to hearken after discourse, and thereupon to frame slanderous and mischievous tales.^ Eaves-dropping is a common nuisance, indictable at common law, and punishable by fine and by having to fm-nish sureties for good behavior.^ Consists in privily listening, not in looking or peeping. It is a good defense that the act was authorized by the husband of the prosecutrix.*
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
In English criminal law. The ofifence of listening under walls or windows, or the eaves of a house, to hearken after discourse, and thereupon to frame slanderous and mischievous tsdes. 4 BL Com, 168. It is a misdemeanour at common law, indictable at sessions, and punishable by fine and finding sureties for good behaviour. Ibid, Steph, Crim, Law, 109. Lewis' U. S. Crim. Law, 233.