Word Study
coroner
CIDE DICTIONARY
coroner, n. [From OE. coronen to crown, OF. coroner, fr. L. coronare, fr. corona crown. Formed as a translation of LL. coronator coroner, fr. L. corona crown, the coroner having been originally a prosecuting officer of the crown. See Crown.].
An officer of the peace whose principal duty is to inquire, with the help of a jury, into the cause of any violent, sudden or mysterious death, or death in prison, usually on sight of the body and at the place where the death occurred. [1913 Webster]
" In some of the United States the office of coroner is abolished, that of medical examiner taking its place." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
coroner, n.
1 an officer of a county, district, or municipality, holding inquests on deaths thought to be violent or accidental, and inquiries in cases of treasure trove.
2 hist. an officer charged with maintaining the rights of the private property of the Crown.
1 an officer of a county, district, or municipality, holding inquests on deaths thought to be violent or accidental, and inquiries in cases of treasure trove.
2 hist. an officer charged with maintaining the rights of the private property of the Crown.
Derivative
coronership n.
Etymology
ME f. AF cor(o)uner f. coro(u)ne CROWN
THESAURUS
coroner
Doctor of Medicine, GP, MD, allopath, allopathist, attending physician, autopsy, country doctor, croaker, doc, doctor, family doctor, general practitioner, house physician, inquest, intern, leech, medical attendant, medical examiner, medical man, medical practitioner, medico, mortality committee, necropsy, necroscopy, physician, physician in ordinary, postmortem, postmortem examination, resident, resident physician, sawbonesROGET THESAURUS
coroner
Jurisdiction
N jurisdiction, judicature, administration of justice, soc, executive, commission of the peace, magistracy, judge, tribunal, municipality, corporation, bailiwick, shrievalty, lord lieutenant, sheriff, shire reeve, shrieve, constable, selectman, police, police force, the fuzz, constabulary, bumbledom, gendarmerie, officer, bailiff, tipstaff, bum-bailiff, catchpoll, beadle, policeman, cop, police constable, police sergeant, sbirro, alguazil, gendarme, kavass, lictor, mace bearer, huissier, bedel, tithingman, press gang, exciseman, gauger, gager, customhouse officer, douanier, coroner, edile, aedile, portreeve, paritor, posse comitatus, bureau, cutcherry, department, secretariat, long arm of the law, extradition, executive, administrative, municipal, inquisitorial, causidical, judicatory, judiciary, judicial, juridical, coram judice.For further exploring for "coroner" in Webster Dictionary Online