(often Draconian) said of laws, measures, etc: extremely severe; drastic
Could this be he who, of late, with sour visage, and in stuffy habiliments, administered, ferule in hand, the Draconian laws of the Academy? — Poe
Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek Drakōn seventh-cent. bc Athenian lawgiver. Draco's code of laws were notorious for their severity; the death penalty was prescribed for the most trivial offences