Definition of: Vehmgericht

(fām′gə·rikht) noun plural ·rich·te (-rikh′tə)
An institution peculiar to Germany, especially Westphalia, from about 1150 to 1568, consisting of irregular tribunals. Civil cases were tried openly, but serious crimes, such as heresy, witchcraft, murder, etc., were tried by night in secret session. [<G <fehm judgment, punishment + gericht law, court]