An outlaw is, as it were, put out of the protection of the law: he carries the head of a wolf.

Explanation

One declared outlaw forfeits the protection of the law — the severity of this maxim historically meant that any man might treat the outlaw as he would a wolf, though modern law has replaced outlawry with less drastic measures.

Where this applies

• A person is declared an outlaw and loses all legal protections.
• Someone is placed outside the protection of the law as a severe penalty.