Definition of "puisne"

puisne

/ˈpjuːni/

adjective
comparative more puisne, superlative most puisne
1. (obsolete) Younger; junior.
2. (obsolete) Insignificant, petty; ineffectual.
  Quotations
  it is not conceptible that in an infinite , or indeed in a very long period of Revolutions of Mankind , those or any things of this kind discoverable would have been of so late a puiſne a discovery
  a. 1677, Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677
  But this intrigue of the ancient is a piece of private history, the truth of which my beloved cares not to own, and indeed, affects to disbelieve. As she does also some puisne gallantries of her foolish brother […] .
  1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CCXVII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; […]
3. (law) Inferior in rank, as designation of any justice, judge etc. other than the most senior.
4. (now law) Coming later in time; subsequent, secondary.
  Quotations
  a puisne date to eternity
  a. 1677, Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677
noun
plural puisnes
1. A person of puisne rank.