A "Moot" Point (1717)

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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

_Moot_ (from Sax. Motian(?), To treat or handle) is well understood at the Inns of Court to be that Exercise of Arguing of Cases, which young _Barrasters_ and Students perform at certain Times, for the better enabling them for Practice and Defence of Client's Causes.  The Place where _Moot-Cases_ were argued, was anciently called a _Moot-Hall_, from the Sax Mopeal(?).  In the Inns of Court there is a _Bailiff_ or _Surveyor of the Moots_, who is yearly chosen by the Bench, to appoint the _Mootmen_ for the Inns of Chancery, and to keep Accompt of the Performance of Exercises both there and in the House.  See _Orig. Juriciales_, _fol._ 212.

   _Moothouse-Court:_  So the Hundred Court of _Bingham_ in _Nottinghamshire_ is called, and the Place where 'tis held is called the _Moothouse-Pit_.  _Antiq. of Nottinghamshire_, _fol._ 71,4.

   _Mootmen_, are those that argue Readers Cases (called also _Moot-Cases_) in the Houses of _CHancery_, both in Terms and in Vacations.  _Coke's Rep._ 3 _Par. in Proaemio_.


("Moot Court" was probably not coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1788--ed.)