18 November 2009
Penal means something that may be punished; that which inflicts a punishment.
Something pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as: (a) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue; the penal code. (b) Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penal act or offense. (c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment;
Penal code (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment.
Penal laws, Penal statutes (Law), laws prohibiting certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them.
Penal servitude, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison, in lieu of transportation.
Penal suit, Penal action (Law), a suit for penalties.