Black's Law Dictionary (2nd edition)dictionaries

De Plano

Lat On the ground; on a level. A term of the Roman law descrip-tive of the method of bearding causes, when the prsetor stood on the ground with the suit-ors, instead of tlie more formal method when he occupied a bench or tribunal; hence ln-formal, or summary

Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)