Riot Actn.
/ˈrʌɪət akt/, U.S. /ˈraɪət ˌæk(t)/ Originally British.
An Act of Parliament passed by the British government in 1715, designed to prevent civil disorder; (in extended use) a similar act passed by the legislature of another country, usually a former British colony. Chiefly in to read the Riot Act at Phrases. Also in extended use.The Act (1 Geo. I. §2, c. 5) made it a felony for an assembly of more than twelve people to refuse to disperse within one hour of being ordered to do so and having been read a specified portion of the Act by lawful authority, and provided that after this hour the assembly could be dispersed by force. The main provisions of that Act were repealed by the Criminal Law Act 1967, and the remainder by Statute Law Revision in 1973. The Public Order Act of 1986 now defines an offence of riot (punishable by up to ten years imprisonment), restricted to the use of violence or conduct amounting to threat.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > types of laws > [noun] > relating to public order
Riot Act1715
Six Acts1834
1715 T. Burnet Flying General (single sheet) Now the Riot Act is past, They must be hang'd up all at last.
1731 Gentleman's Mag. 1 15 Speaking of the riot-act he says [etc.].
1785 J. Wesley Let. 9 May (1931) VII. 270 Prosecute them not on the Toleration Act, which allows only twenty pounds' damage, but on the Riot Act, which brings their wishes in question.
1855 C. Campbell in R. Beverley Hist. Virginia Introd. 2 A riot-act was also passed, making plant-cutting high treason, the necessity of which act evinces the illegality of the execution of these unfortunate plant-cutters.
1913 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 30 Oct. 8 (headline) No need for Riot Act.
1972 Virginia Law Rev. 58 112 In 1968 the General Assembly passed the Riot Act.
1977 J. Rosenthal Spend, Spend, Spend in Bar Mitzvah Boy & Other Television Plays (1987) 193 Vivian. Drunk again? Man's Voice. Just beginning to surface. He's had twelve cups of black coffee and the Riot Act.
1991 Albion 23 318 Court Whig attempts, such as the Riot Act of 1715 and the City Elections Act of 1725, to limit opposition.
Phrases
to read the Riot Act.
a. To read aloud to a crowd the specified portion of the Riot Act ordering the dispersal of the crowd within the hour. Now chiefly historical.
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1763 Appeal to Public in Behalf of Manager 22 Suppose a Justice of peace was proposed being sent for to read the Riot-act.
1795 Pitt in T. Browne Brit. Cicero (1808) I. 524 That after reading the riot act, and ordering them to disperse, any number of persons remaining should, as by the riot act, incur the penalty of the law, that of felony.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. (at cited word) Soldiers are not to fire on rioters until the riot act has been read.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xlix. 223 The Riot Act was read.
1887 W. Hunt Bristol 201 The Riot Act having been read three times, the soldiers were ordered to clear the bridge.
1909 T. Johnston Our Scots Noble Families 55 The Riot Act was read, a few wondering natives were clapped in Dornoch Jail.
1917 Argus (Melbourne) 28 Sept. 6/4 He should ask one of the justices to take his place if the Riot Act was going to be read.
1986 R. Sproat Stunning the Punters 162 Reading the riot act could never have done any good at all, except maybe salving the conscience of the poor bloody squaddies who got the orders to shoot.
b. In extended use (usually with lower-case initials). To give a severe warning or reprimand. Now frequently with to or indirect object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (intransitive)] > scold
scold1377
chide1393
channerc1480
ratea1529
chowre1567
flite1568
to scold it outa1592
to speak or look daggers1603
snub1694
to read the Riot Act1784
row1843
rouse1896
roust1901
to bust (a person's) balls1946
to bust on1961
1784 M. P. Andrews Reparation iii. iii. 39 Peace, I say, or I'll read the riot act.
1819 W. Bradford Let. 17 Dec. in M. Wilmot More Lett. (1935) 39 She has just run out to read the riot act in the Nursery.
1842 C. Fox Jrnl. 18 Apr. (1972) 123 Sydney Smith said, ‘Lady Holland is not one woman, but a multitude; just read the Riot Act and you'll presently see them disperse!’
1906 J. London Let. 20 Oct. (1966) 211 You might have found out, before you read me the riot act.
1916 H. L. Wilson Somewhere in Red Gap v. 185 When Henrietta declared herself, Alonzo read the riot act and declared marital law.
1920 A. E. W. Mason Summons xix. 193 ‘Have a whisky-and-soda.’ ‘Thanks.’.. ‘Lucky man! The doctor's read the Riot Act to me.’
1976 P. Hill Hunters x. 131 Read her the riot act, tell her to be a good girl and take her home.
2006 Health Service Jrnl. 20 Apr. 12/2 He read the riot act to overspent health chiefs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1715