Legal Term: DOCTORS COMMONS

Definition: A building in London used for a college of civilians. Here the judge of the court of arches, the judge of the admiralty, and the judge of the court of Canterbury, with other eminent civilians, reside. Commons signifies, in old English, pittance or allowance, because it is meant in common among societies, as Universities, Inns of Courts, Doctors Commons, &c. The Latin word is, demensum a demetiendo, dividing every one his part Minsheu. It is called Doctors Commons, because the persons residing there live in a collegiate commoning together.

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