by-law
/ˈbʌɪlɔː
/(also bye-law)
noun
1British A regulation made by a local authority or corporation.In the peculiar circumstances of this case, I find that a case has not been made to deny the directors their right to enforce the by-laws of the corporation....
- Other forms of delegated legislation include the power of ministers to legislate by Order in Council and for local authorities to make by-laws.
- Meetings and marches are subject to the laws prohibiting obstruction of the highway, public nuisance, and trespass, and to local authority by-laws.
2A rule made by a company or society to control the actions of its members.The company itself controlled its members through by-laws giving exclusive rights in certain books to certain publishers....
- He welcomed the Town Council's move to introduce bye-laws to control the use of jet skis in Tramore Bay, but stressed that the laws needed to be backed up with the resources to enforce them.
- Sligo County Council's environmental services presented the bye-laws to members of both the county and borough councils, who approved them last week.
Synonyms
local law, regulation, rule
Origin
Middle English: probably from obsolete byrlaw 'local law or custom', from Old Norse býjar, genitive singular of býr 'town', but associated with by.