ÜBER DIE BEDEUTUNG DES WORTES RUKA (HAND) IM SERBISCHEN MITTELALTERLICHEN RECHT
ON DIFFERENT MEANINGS OF THE WORD RUKA (HAND) IN SERBIAN MEDIEVAL LAW

Summary/Abstract: Serbian word ruka literally means hand, i.e. part of the human arm beyond the wrist. The word could be found in its basic meaning in the Law Code of Stefan Dušan, in the articles ordering the cutting off of hands, as a corporal punishment for different crimes. But, in some charters issued before the Code, ruka means a guarantor when the first trial fails to reach a decision, in which case recourse was had to compurgators on oath.

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