The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Novel \Nov"el\, a. [OF. novel, nuvel, F. nouvel, nouveau, L.
   novellus, dim. of novus new. See New.]
   Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence,
   out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: In civil law, the novel or new constitutions are those
         which are supplemental to the code, and posterior in
         time to the other books. These contained new decrees of
         successive emperors.
         [1913 Webster]

   Novel assignment (Law), a new assignment or specification
      of a suit.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: New; recent; modern; fresh; strange; uncommon; rare;
        unusual.

   Usage: Novel, New . Everything at its first occurrence is
          new; that is novel which is so much out of the
          ordinary course as to strike us with surprise. That is
          a new sight which is beheld for the first time; that
          is a novel sight which either was never seen before or
          is seen but seldom. We have daily new inventions, but
          a novel one supposes some very peculiar means of
          attaining its end. Novel theories are regarded with
          distrust, as likely to prove more ingenious than
          sound.
          [1913 Webster]

Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

NOVEL ASSIGNMENT. Vide New Assignment.