Petit treason

In English Law. The killing of a master by his servant, a husband by his wife, a superior by a secular or religious man. In the United States, this is like any other murder. See High Treason; Treason. P E T I T 1 0. A count or declaration. Glanv.

In English law. The crime committed by a wife in killing her husband, or a servant his lord or master, or an ecclesiastic his lord or ordinary. 4 Bl. Comm. 75.
—Treason-felony, under the English statute 11 & 12 Viet. c. 12, passed in 1848, is the offense of compassing, devising, etc., to depose her majesty from the crown; or to levy war in order to intimidate either house of parliament, etc., or to stir up foreigners by any printing or writing to invade the kingdom. This offense is punishable with penal servitude for life, or for any term not less than five years, etc., under statutes 11 & 12 Vict. c. 12, § 3; 20 & 21 Vict. c. 3, § 2; 27 & 28 Vict. c. 47, § 2. By the stafute first above mentioned, the government is enabled to treat as felony many offenses which must formerly have been treated as high treason. Mozley & Whitley.

Defined under Treason in Black's Law Dictionary.