Cōde, n.

n. [Fr. code, from Lat. codex, or caudex, the stock or stem of a tree, a board or tablet of wood smeared over with wax, on which the ancients originally wrote, hence book, writing; Fr. codī, Sp. & Pg. codigo, It. codice.] An orderly collection, system, or digest of laws; a compilation or collection of laws by public authority; — originally used of the collection of laws, &c., made by Theodosius the younger; but, by way of eminence, the collection of laws, &c., made by the order of Justinian, is called “The Code.” Wharton.