ˌkwōwəˈrän.(ˌ)tō, -ran.- noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin, by what warrant
1.
a. : an English writ of right formerly issued on behalf of the crown requiring a person to show by what authority he exercises his office, franchise, or liberty
b. : the entire pleadings that such a writ calls forth or the action or proceeding itself
2.
a. : a legal proceeding that is brought by the state, sovereign, or public officer, has a purpose similar to that of the ancient writ of quo warranto, is usually criminal in form and sometimes authorizes the imposition of a fine but is essentially civil in nature and seeks to correct often at the relation or on the complaint of a private person a usurpation, misuser, or nonuser of a public office or corporate or public franchise, and may result in judgments of ouster against individuals and of ouster and seizure against corporations
b. : the pleadings in such a proceeding