Marsh, Eng

Lang. 246.

From L. capitalis, the head or chief. Compare "pecunia-ry," and '* feud." When wealth consisted in heads of cattle (capita, capitalia), the word which designated them came to include all kinds of property. In the Elizabethan age " quick cattle " meant live stock. In time " chattel " denoted dead, inanimate property; and " cattle " sensate possessions. Wiclif, in 1380, translated Luke viii, 44, " a woman that spendid all hir catel in leechis; " and Chaucer, in 1.388, wrote that &n avaricious man "hath hope in his catel."

See Trench, Glossary, 29. » 1 Bl. Com. 298. 'See United States v. Mattock, 2 Saw. 149-51 (1872); Decatur Bank v. St. Louis Bank, 21 Wall. 299 (1874); Ohio, &c. E. Co. V. Brubaker, 47 111. 462 (1868); Toledo, &c. R. Co. V. Cole, 50 id. 186 (1869); Hubotter v. State, 32 Tex. 484 (1870); 27 id. 726; 45 id. 84.

Within the meaning of a penal statute, " buffaloes " may not be cattle.' See Animal ; Damage-peasant; Feed; Fence; Heifer; Hog; Horse; Perishable; Provisions