Word Study
tales
CIDE DICTIONARY
tales, n. [L., pl. of talis such (persons).].
Persons added to a jury, commonly from those in or about the courthouse, to make up any deficiency in the number of jurors regularly summoned, being like, or such as, the latter. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
tales, n. Law 1 a writ for summoning jurors to supply a deficiency.
2 a list of persons who may be summoned.
2 a list of persons who may be summoned.
Etymology
ME f. L tales (de circumstantibus) such (of the bystanders), the first words of the writ
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