Legal Definitions - town crier

Definition: A town crier is a historical town officer who was responsible for making public announcements related to town business. They would walk through the streets ringing a bell or using a loud voice to get people's attention before making their announcement.

Example: In medieval times, a town crier would announce important news such as upcoming events, changes in laws, or warnings of danger. For example, if there was going to be a market day, the town crier would announce the date and time so that everyone knew when to come and sell their goods.

Example: In modern times, some towns still have a town crier as a tradition or for special events. For example, during the Olympic Games, the host city often has a town crier who announces the start of the games and welcomes visitors to the city.

These examples illustrate how a town crier was an important figure in the past for communicating important information to the public. They were responsible for making sure everyone knew what was happening in their town and were often the only source of news for many people.