Misdemeanour

Misdemeanour, in the law of England and Ireland, means a crime not involving forfeiture of property on conviction. Every crime is either treason, felony, or misdemeanor; and in creating new offences the legislature determines how they are to be classed. The distinction between felony and misdemeanor is not logically drawn, and it would disappear if the criminal law were codified on a rational plan. See Stephen's Hist. of Crim. Law.