Serious crimes like murder, robbery, or drug trafficking that carry heavy punishments like prison time.
From Old French 'felonie,' possibly from Latin 'fell' meaning 'fierce' or 'cruel.' Originally referred to betrayal of a feudal lord, but expanded to mean serious crimes in general.
The definition of what counts as a 'felony' versus a misdemeanor varies wildly by country and time period — something that's a felony in one state might only be a fine in another, showing how criminal law is invented rather than natural!
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