Word Study
leet
CIDE DICTIONARY
leet, obs. imp.
of Let, to allow. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
leet, n. [Cf. AS. hl share, lot.].
A portion; a list, esp. a list of candidates for an office. [1913 Webster]
leet, n. [LL. leta. Cf. F. lit de justice a solemn sitting of the king in Parliament, L. lis, litis, a lawsuit, It., Sp., & Pg. lite.].
A court-leet; the district within the jurisdiction of a court-leet; the day on which a court-leet is held. Shak. [1913 Webster]
" The original intent of the court-leet was to view the frankpledges or freemen within the liberty; hence called the view of frankpledge. Latterly it has fallen into almost entire disuse." Burrill. Warren's Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
leet, n. [Etymol. uncertain.].
The European pollock. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
leet, n. hist.
1 (in full Court leet) a yearly or half-yearly court of record that lords of certain manors might hold.
2 its jurisdiction or district.
1 (in full Court leet) a yearly or half-yearly court of record that lords of certain manors might hold.
2 its jurisdiction or district.
leet, n. Sc. a selected list of candidates for some office.
Idiom
short leet = short list.
Etymology
ME lite etc., prob. f. AF & OF lit(t)e, var. of liste LIST(1)
For further exploring for "leet" in Webster Dictionary Online
