Law. The roll or record kept in connection with a manorial court, containing especially entries as to the rents and holdings, deaths, alienations, and successions of the customary tenants or copyholders, a copy of which constitutes the tenant’s title to his holding.
1461. J. Paston, Lett., No. 408, II. 36. The bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 12 b. Tenauntes by copye of courte role.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 60 a. These tenants are called tenants by Copie of Court Rolle, because they haue no other euidence concerning their tenements, but onely the Copies of Court Rolles.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 147. An estate held by copy of court roll; or, as we usually call it, a copyhold estate.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1015. The legal estate appearing on the Court Rolls to be in the trustees.
† b. transf. and fig. Obs.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 128. You have heard a whole Courte rolle of ribaudrie.
1673. A. Walker, Leez Lachrymans, 5. They are God’s Records or Register, Heavens Court-Rouls.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 438. All the Musicians being call’d over by a Court-roll.
Hence † Court-roller, one who keeps a court-roll (or ? error for CONTROLLER).
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 310. I was your chefe tollare And sithen courte rollar.
