Latin for 'you may have the body' — the writ commanding a jailer to produce a prisoner before a court to determine the legality of detention.
A writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention; the legal right protecting individuals against unlawful detention.
From the opening words of the writ in Latin: 'habeās corpus,' meaning 'you may have the body' or 'you shall have the body.' 'Habeās' is the second person singular present subjunctive of 'habēre' (to have, to hold), from PIE *ghabh- (to give, to receive, to hold). 'Corpus' (body) descends from PIE *krep- (body, form). The writ commanded a jailer or official to produce