admiralties

Admiralty \Ad"mi*ral*ty\, n.; pl. {Admiralties}. [F.
   amiraut['e], for an older amiralt['e], office of admiral, fr.
   LL. admiralitas. See {Admiral}.]
   1. The office or jurisdiction of an admiral. --Prescott.
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   2. The department or officers having authority over naval
      affairs generally.
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   3. The court which has jurisdiction of maritime questions and
      offenses.
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   Note: In England, admiralty jurisdiction was formerly vested
         in the High Court of Admiralty, which was held before
         the Lord High Admiral, or his deputy, styled the Judge
         of the Admiralty; but admiralty jurisdiction is now
         vested in the probate, divorce, and admiralty division
         of the High Justice. In America, there are no admiralty
         courts distinct from others, but admiralty jurisdiction
         is vested in the district courts of the United States,
         subject to revision by the circuit courts and the
         Supreme Court of the United States. Admiralty
         jurisprudence has cognizance of maritime contracts and
         torts, collisions at sea, cases of prize in war, etc.,
         and in America, admiralty jurisdiction is extended to
         such matters, arising out of the navigation of any of
         the public waters, as the Great Lakes and rivers.
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   4. The system of jurisprudence of admiralty courts.
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   5. The building in which the lords of the admiralty, in
      England, transact business.
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