Other forms: coroners
A coroner is the official who investigates a sudden or unexplained death. The coroner's court, refer it to the coroner, the coroner recorded a verdict.
In England and Wales the coroner holds an inquest, which establishes who died, and when, where and how — but does not decide blame or guilt. That limit is often misunderstood in reporting. Scotland has a different system, with the procurator fiscal. In America, some jurisdictions have coroners and others medical examiners, who must be qualified doctors. Note coroner's officer and post-mortem.
1nouncoronerThe official who investigates a sudden or unexplained death.
“The coroner opened the inquest and adjourned it the same morning.”
coroner is a legal official.
The coroner was originally the custos placitorum coronae, the guardian of the crown's pleas — a royal official protecting the king's financial interest in deaths and treasure. Crown and coroner are the same word, and the job is over eight hundred years old.
Middle English
coroner
English, today
coroner
From Middle English coroner. From Middle English coroner, from Old French curuner, from Medieval Latin custōs placitōrum corōnae (“guardian of the crown's pleas”). The function was originally to protect royal properties. Compare crowner. a doublet of crown.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA