Sodomy

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Anderson (1889), Abbott (1879), Bouvier (1839)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

A carnal copulation by human beings with each other against nature, or with a beast. 2 Bish. Crim. Law, §1029. A distinction not generally recognized has been made between bestiality and sodomy, the former being defined as carnal connection between a human being and a brute, and the latter as carnal_ connection between two human beings against the order of nature. 10 Ind. 355. It has generally been held that at common law the crime of sodomy was committed by penetration per anum, and not per OS. A penetration of the mouth is not sodomy. Bishop's New Criminal Law, Vol. 2, §1194; 2 Russell on Crimes, p. 638; Mc Clain's Crim. Law, §1153; 86 Neb. 237, 21 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 336; 133 Ky. 720, 118 S. W. 943. SOIT BAILE AUX COMMONS (Law Fr. let it be delivered to the commons). The form of indorsement on a bill when sent to the house of commons. Dyer, 93a. SOIT BAILE AUX SEIGNEURS (Law Fr. let it be delivered to the lords). The form of indorsement on a bill in parliament when sent to the house of lords. Hob. Ilia.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Connection per anum between two human beings of male sex. See 10 Ind. 355, 71 Am. Dec. 331.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

A carnal copulation by human beings with each other against nature, or with a beast. See 2 Bish. Cr. Law § 1191; Whart. Cr. Law 579. It may be committed between two persons both of whom consent, even between husband and wife; 8 C. & P. 604; and both may be indicted; 1 Den. Cr. Cas. 464; 2 C. A K. 869; when committed on the wife, against her consent, it is a matrimonial offence under the English act of 1857; 22 T. L. R. 26. Penetration of the mouth is not sodomy; Russ. & R. 331; Prindle v. State, 31 Tex. Cr. R. 551, 21 S. W. 360, 37 Am. St. Rep. 833. As to emission, see 12 Co. 36; Com. v. Thomas, 1 Ya. Cas. 307. See 1 Russ. Cr. 698; 1 Mood. Cr. Cas. 34; 8 C. & P. 417; People v. Hodgkin, 94 Mich. 27, 53 N. W. 794, 34 Am. St. Rep. 321. A minor 12 years of age cannot consent to an act of sodomy committed on his person; and if he submits to it without resistance the act is still done by force; Mascolo v. Montesanto, 61 Conn. 50, 23 Atl. 9GG, 29 Am. St Rep. 195. A domestic fowl is an “animal” within 24 & 25 Yict e. 100, punishing unnatural offences; 24 Q. B. Div. 357. But see 1 Russ. Cr. 698.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In criminal law. The crime of unnatural sexual connection; so named from its prevalence in Sodoin. See Genesis, xix. This term is often defined in stafutes and judicial decisions as meaning "the crime against nature," the "crimen innominatum," or as carnal copulation, against the order of nature, by man with man, or, in the same unnatural manner, with woman or with a beast. See Or. Code Ga. § 4352 ; Honselman v. People, 168 111. 172, 48 N. E. 304. But, strictly speaking, it should be used only as equivalent to "pederasty," that is, the sexual act as performed by a man upon the person of another man or a boy by penetration of the anus. See Ausman v. Veal, 10 Ind. 355, 71 Am. Dec. 331. The term might also, without any great violence to ita original meaning, be so extended as to cover the same act when performed in the same manner by a man upon the person of a woman. Another possible method of unilateral sexual connection, by penetration of the mouth (penem in orem alii immittere, vel penem alii in orem recipere) is not properly called "sodomy," but "fellation." That this does not constitute sodomy within the meaning of a stafute is held in Harvey v. State, 55 Tex Cr. App. 199, 115 S. W. 1198 ; Com. v. Poindexter (Ky.) 118 S. W. 943 ; Lewis v. State, 36 Tex. Cr. R. 37, 35 S. W. 372, 61 Am. St. Ren. 831. On the other hand 'bestiality is the carnal copulation of a human being with a brute, or animal of the sub-human orders, of the opposite sex. It is not identical with sodomy, nor is it a form of sodomy, though the two terms are often confused in legal writings and sometimes in statutes. See Ausman v. Veal, 10 Ind. 355, 71 Am. Dec. 33l. Bucgery is a term rarely used in statutes, but apparently including both sodomy ,tn the widest sense) and bestiality as above defined. See Ausman v. Veal, 10 Ind. 355, 71 Am. Dec. 331; Com. v. J., 21 Pa. Co. Ct R. 625.

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

Carnal copulation, by human beings with each other against nature, or with a beast. 1 Named from the prevalence of the sin in Sodom.'*, The infamous " crime against nature," bommitted either with man or beast; an offence of so dark a nature, so easily charged, and the negative so difficult to be proved, that the accusation should be clearly made out.s Sometimes called " bestiality" or "buggery."

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

The offence of camal copulation by one human being with another against natm-e, or with a beast; buggery.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

crim. law. The crime against nature, committed either with man or beast. It is a crime not fit to be named; peccatum illud horrible, inter christianum non nominandum. 4 Bl. Com. 215; 1 East, P. C. 480, 487; Bac. Ab. h. t.; Hawk, b. 1, c. 4; 1 Hale, 669; Com. Dig. Justices, S 4; Russ. & Ry. 331.