court of claims

noun phrase

: a court that has jurisdiction over claims (as against a government)

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

court of claims

1

often capitalized both Cs : a court (as in Illinois, Michigan, New York, and West Virginia) that has jurisdiction primarily over cases involving claims against the state

2

capitalized : a former court succeeded by the United States Claims Court see also united states court of federal claims