A "Moot" Point (1717)

[Fred Shapiro]

On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:

> A LAW DICTIONARY AND GLOSSARY, INTERPRETING SUCH DIFFICULT AND OBSCURE
> WORDS AND TERMS, AS ARE FOUND EITHER IN OUR COMMON STATUTE, ANCIENT OR
> MODERN LAWS by Tho. Blount The Third Edition In the SAVOY: Printed by
> Eliz. Nutt, and R. Gosling 1717
>
> where _Moot-Cases_ were argued, was anciently called a _Moot-Hall_, from
>
> ("Moot Court" was probably not coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1788--ed.)

Note that the OED records "moot case" back to the 16th century.  I agree
that "moot court" was probably not coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1788.  I
don't think anyone ever said it was.

Fred Shapiro


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