crim. law. This term is used by the civilians to signify the act by which au individual informs a public officer, whose duty it is to prosecute offenders, that a crime has been committed. It differs from a complaint. In the civil law.
The act by which an Individual informs a public officer, whose duty it is to prosecute offenders, that a crime has been committed. In Scotch practice. The act by which a person is declared to be a rebel, who has disobeyed the charge given on letters of horning. Bell.