Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†CHAUD MELLE, CHAUD MELLA, n. A term in Sc. law (see second quot.) “put forward as a defence to a criminal charge” (Abd.16 1939). Given as obsol. for Gall. in E.D.D. (1898).Sc. 1752 Scots Mag. (May 1753) 231/2:
The murder is not said to have been committed from sudden passion, or chaud mella.Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 171:
Chaud melle . . . is a term in our ancient law, applied to homicide committed on a sudden, and in heat of blood. Skene defines it, a hot, sudden “tulzie” or debate, contradistinguished from forethought felony. The person guilty of this offence had the benefit of sanctuary, from which, however, he might have been taken for trial; but if he proved chaud melle, he was returned safe in life and limb.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Chaud Melle n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chaud_melle>