Côr'o-ner, n.

n. [L. Lat. coronarius, equivalent to coronator, from Lat. corona, crown.] An officer of the law whose duty is to inquire into the manner of a violent death. This must be done by a jury, on sight of the body, and usually at the place where the death happened.

Coroner . . . I take that this name cometh, because that the death of every subject by violence is accounted to touch the crown of the prince, and to be a detriment unto it. Smith.

As a ministerial officer, the coroner is the sheriff's substitute, in executing process, when the sheriff is a party to the proceeding, or is otherwise incompetent to act; so in case of the death of the sheriff, or of a vacancy in that office. Bouvier. Wharton.