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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

By-law \By"-law`\ (b[imac]"-l[add]`), n. [Cf. Sw. bylag, D.
bylov, Icel. b[=y]arl["o]g, fr. Sw. & Dan. by town, Icel.
b[ae]r, byr (fr. b[^u]a 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.
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The law or institution; to which are added two
by-laws, as a comment upon the general law.
--Addison.
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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]