A law enacted at Rome protecting slaves from being condemned to fight with wild beasts.
Origin
Late 17th century; earliest use found in Timothy Nourse (c1636–1699), agricultural and religious writer. From the name of Petronius + -an + law, after classical Latin Lex Petronia.
Definition of Petronian Law in US English:
Petronian Law
nounpɪˌtrəʊnɪən ˈlɔː
A law enacted at Rome protecting slaves from being condemned to fight with wild beasts.
Origin
Late 17th century; earliest use found in Timothy Nourse (c1636–1699), agricultural and religious writer. From the name of Petronius + -an + law, after classical Latin Lex Petronia.