n. [ Cf. Sw. bylag, D. bylov, Icel. b&ymacr_;arlög, fr. Sw. & Dan. by town, Icel. bær, byr (fr. bûa to dwell) + the word for law; hence, a law for one town, a special law. Cf. Birlaw and see Law. ] 1. A local or subordinate law; a private law or regulation made by a corporation for its own government. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was likewise a law to restrain the by-laws, or ordinances of corporations. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The law or institution; to which are added two by-laws, as a comment upon the general law. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A law that is less important than a general law or constitutional provision, and subsidiary to it; a rule relating to a matter of detail; as, civic societies often adopt a constitution and by-laws for the government of their members. In this sense the word has probably been influenced by by, meaning secondary or aside. [ 1913 Webster ]