Research guides
Legal Dictionaries
Historic Dictionaries (pre-1950)
Member Databases
Spinelli's Law Library Reference Shelf: Dictionaries
Available on HeinOnline. Can browse by title, author, date, and subject. Includes American, English, and foreign language dictionaries. Earliest dictionaries date back to the 1500s.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary, with Pronunciations Lawyers Co-operative Pub. Co.
- Library has 3rd (1969) and 1948 (with 1954 pocket part) editions.
- Library has online access to 2nd students edition (1948) and 1916 printing on HeinOnline.
Black's Law Dictionary West/Thomson Reuters
- Library has print access to: 10th (2014), 9th (2009), 8th (2004), 7th (1999), 6th (1990), 5th (1979), Rev. 4th (1968), 4th (1951), Deluxe 3rd (1944), 3rd (1933), 2nd (1910), and 1st (1891) editions.
- Library has online access to 2nd (1910) and 1st (1891) editions on HeinOnline.
Bouvier Law Dictionary Publisher varies
- Library has print access to Desk ed. (2012), Century ed. (1926), 3rd revision being the 8th edition (1914), 15th revised (1894), 15th revised (1885), 14th revised (1876), 12th revised (1868), 10th revised (1860), 7th revised (1857), 4th revised (1852), 2nd (1843), and 1839 editions.
- Library has online access to Baldwin's students edition (1934), 8th edition 3rd revision (1914), New Revised (1897), 15th revised and enlarged (1883), 14th revised and enlarged (1871), 10th revised, improved, and enlarged (1860), 7th revised, improved, and enlarged (1857), 6th revised and enlarged (1856), 5th revised and enlarged (1855), 3rd enlarged edition (1848), 2nd (1843), and 1839 editions on HeinOnline.
The Collegiate Law Dictionary The American Law Book Company
- Library has print access to 1925 printing.
The Cyclopedic Dictionary of Law Printer varies
- Library has print access to 1901 printing.
- Library has online access to 3rd 3dition (1940), 2nd edition (1922), and 1912 and 1901 printings on HeinOnline.
- Library has online access to 1901 printing on LLMC Digital.
A Dictionary of American and English Law Frederick D. Linn & Co.
Also referred to as Rapalje and Lawrence's Law Dictionary.
- Library has print access to 1888 printing.
- Library has online access to 1888 printing on HeinOnline.
A Dictionary of Law T.H. Flood and Company
Also referred to as Anderson's Dictionary of Law.
- Library has print access to 1889 printing.
- Library has online access to 1889 printing on HeinOnline.
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence Little, Brown, and Company
Also referred to as Abbott's Law Dictionary.
- Library has print access to 1879 printing (vol. 1 only).
- Library has online access to 1879 printing (vols. 1 & 2) on HeinOnline.
Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law Little, Brown and Company
- Library has 1881 printing.
- Library has online access to 1881 printing on HeinOnline.
The Law-Dictionary Publisher varies
Also referred to as Jacob's Law Dictionary.
- Library has print access to 1st American from the 2nd London edition (1811).
- Library has online access to 1st American from the 2nd London edition (1811) on HeinOnline.
- For the London editions available at Jenkins, see the Historic English Legal Dictionaries (pre-1950) page of this guide.
Law Lexicon, or Dictionary of Jurisprudence Printer varies
- Library has print access to 2nd American from the 2nd London edition (1860).
- For the London reprint, see the Historic English Legal Dictionaries (pre-1950) page of this guide.
Research Tip
Additional historic legal dictionaries are available to most Jenkins members on HeinOnline in Spinelli's Law Library Reference Shelf.