In old English criminal law, laymen, upon being accorded the benefit of clergy, were burned with a hot iron in the brawn of the left thumb, in order that, being thus marked, they could not again claim their clergy. 4 Bl. Comm. 367.
More On This Topic
Link to This Definition
Did you find this definition of BURNING IN THE HAND helpful? You can share it by copying the code below and adding it to your blog or web page.
Written and fact checked by The Law Dictionary