In old Scotch practice. A kind of trumpet used in denouncing contumaciouspersons rebels and outlaws, which was done with three blasts of the horn by the king’ssergeant. This was called “putting to the horn;” and the party so denounced was said tobe “at the horn.” Bell. See HOBNING.
In old English law. Tenure by cornage; that is, by tbe service ofwinding a horn when the Scots or other enemies entered the land, in order to warn theking’s subjects. This was a species of grand serjeanty. Litt.
A primer; a book explaining tbe rudiments of any science or branch ofknowledge. The phrase “hornbook law” is a colloquial designation of the rudiments ormost familiar principles of law.