The time of term.
a. The period during which the law-courts are in session; the period of study at a university or school: see TERM sb. 5.
1426. Rolls of Parlt., V. 408/2. That oute of Terme tyme, nothyng be spedd in the Counsaille. Ibid. (1435), I. 491/1. All the high Courtes … been sette and holden … duryng all the four terme tymes of the yere.
1562–3. Act 5 Eliz., c. 23 § 2. One Writ of Capias … returneable in the same Courte, in the Terme tyme.
1600–12. Rowlands, Four Knaves (Percy Soc.), 6. A country blew-coate serving man, In tearme-time sent to towne.
1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., No. 47 (1754), 251. The heads of colleges and halls … are obliged to assemble … every monday throughout the year, in vacation-time as well as in term-time.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxix. In term-time Mr. Pen showed a most praiseworthy regularity in … eating his dinners in Hall.
b. In Scotland, the time or season of either term, Whitsuntide or Martinmas.
Mod. The rent payable at term-time.
