search warrant
    n 1: a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to search
         for objects or people involved in the commission of a crime
         and to produce them in court; the warrant describes the
         locations where the officials may search

Search \Search\, n. [Cf. OF. cerche. See Search, v. t.]
   The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry;
   pursuit for finding something; examination.
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         Thus the orb he roamed
         With narrow search, and with inspection deep
         Considered every creature.               --Milton.
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         Nor did my search of liberty begin
         Till my black hairs were changed upon my chin.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   Right of search (Mar. Law), the right of the lawfully
      commissioned cruisers of belligerent nations to examine
      and search private merchant vessels on the high seas, for
      the enemy's property or for articles contraband of war.

   Search warrant (Law), a warrant legally issued, authorizing
      an examination or search of a house, or other place, for
      goods stolen, secreted, or concealed.
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   Syn: Scrutiny; examination; exploration; investigation;
        research; inquiry; quest; pursuit.
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Warrant \War"rant\, n. [OE. warant, OF. warant a warrant, a
   defender, protector, F. garant, originally a p. pr. pf German
   origin, fr. OHG. wer[=e]n to grant, warrant, G. gew[aum]hren;
   akin to OFries. wera. Cf. Guarantee.]
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   1. That which warrants or authorizes; a commission giving
      authority, or justifying the doing of anything; an act,
      instrument, or obligation, by which one person authorizes
      another to do something which he has not otherwise a right
      to do; an act or instrument investing one with a right or
      authority, and thus securing him from loss or damage;
      commission; authority. Specifically: 
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      (a) A writing which authorizes a person to receive money
          or other thing.
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      (b) (Law) A precept issued by a magistrate authorizing an
          officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, or
          do other acts incident to the administration of
          justice.
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      (c) (Mil. & Nav.) An official certificate of appointment
          issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned
          officer. See Warrant officer, below.
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   2. That which vouches or insures for anything; guaranty;
      security.
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            I give thee warrant of thy place.     --Shak.
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            His worth is warrant for his welcome hither. --Shak.
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   3. That which attests or proves; a voucher.
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   4. Right; legality; allowance. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   Bench warrant. (Law) See in the Vocabulary.

   Dock warrant (Com.), a customhouse license or authority.

   General warrant. (Law) See under General.

   Land warrant. See under Land.

   Search warrant. (Law) See under Search, n.

   Warrant of attorney (Law), written authority given by one
      person to another empowering him to transact business for
      him; specifically, written authority given by a client to
      his attorney to appear for him in court, and to suffer
      judgment to pass against him by confession in favor of
      some specified person. --Bouvier.

   Warrant officer, a noncommissioned officer, as a sergeant,
      corporal, bandmaster, etc., in the army, or a
      quartermaster, gunner, boatswain, etc., in the navy.

   Warrant to sue and defend.
      (a) (O. Eng. Law) A special warrant from the crown,
          authorizing a party to appoint an attorney to sue or
          defend for him.
      (b) A special authority given by a party to his attorney
          to commence a suit, or to appear and defend a suit in
          his behalf. This warrant is now disused. --Burrill.
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SEARCH WARRANT, crim. law, practice. A warrant (q.v.) requiring the officer 
to whom it is addressed, to search a house or other place therein specified, 
for property therein alleged to have been stolen; and if the same shall be 
found upon such search, to bring the goods so found, together with the body 
of the person occupying the same, who is named, before the justice or other 
officer granting the warrant, or some other justice of the peace, or other 
lawfully authorized officer. It should be given under the hand and seal of 
the justice, and dated. 
     2. The constitution of the United States, amendments, art. 4, declares 
that "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers 
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be 
violated; and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by 
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, 
and the person or things to be seized." 
     3. Lord Hale, 2 P. C. 149, 150, recommends great caution in granting 
such warrants. 1. That they be, not granted without oath made before a 
justice of a felony committed, and that the complainant has probable cause 
to suspect they are in such a house or place, and his reasons for such 
suspicion. 2. That such warrants express that the search shall be made in 
day time. 3. That they ought to be directed to a constable or other proper 
officer, and not to a private person. 4. A search warrant ought to command 
the officer to bring the stolen goods and the person in whose custody they 
are, before some justice of the peace. Vide 1 Chit. Cr. Law, 57, 64; 4 Inst. 
176; Hawk. B. 2, c. 13, s. 17, n. 6; 11 St. Tr; 321; 2 Wils. 149, 291; 
Burn's Just. h.t.; Williams' Just. h.t.