limb of the law
Preserved but no longer current.
A clerk articled to a lawyer, a sheriff's officer, a policeman, or other legal assistant. Just as the limbs of the body oo what the head directs, so these obey the commands of the head of the office.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “limb of the law” mean?
A clerk articled to a lawyer, a sheriff's officer, a policeman, or other legal assistant. Just as the limbs of the body oo what the head directs, so these obey the commands of the head of the office.
Is “limb of the law” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.