BYLAWS
Noun
bylaws
plural of bylaw
Source: Wiktionary
BYLAW
By"-law` (, n. Etym: [Cf.Sw.bylag, D.bylov, Icel.b, fr.Sw.& Dan. by
town, Icel. bær, byr (fr. bûa to dwell) + the word for law; hence, a
law for one town, a special law. Cf.Birlaw and see Law.]
1. A local or subordinate law; a private law or regulation made by a
corporation for its own government.
There was likewise a law to restrain the by-laws, or ordinances of
corporations. Bacon.
The law or institution; to which are added two by-laws, as a comment
upon the general law. Addison.
2. A law that is less important than a general law or constitutional
provision, and subsidiary to it; a rule relating to a matter of
detail; as, civic societies often adopt a constitution and by-laws
for the government of their members. In this sense the word has
probably been influenced by by, meaning secondary or aside.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition