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Livery

A Dictionary of Law · Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A Dictionary of Law

1.

In English law

Delivery of possession of their lands to the king's tenants in capite or tenants by knight's service.

2.

A writ which may be sued out by a ward in chivalry, on reaching his majority, to obtain delivery of the possession of his lands out of the hands of the guardian.

2 Bl. Com. 68. 3.

A particular dress or garb appropriate or peculiar to certain persons, as the members of a guild, or, more particularly, the servants of a nobleman or gentleman.

4.

The privilege of a particular guild or company of persons, the members thereof being called "livery-men."

5.

A contract of hiring of work-beasts, particularly horses, to the use of the hirer. It is seldom used alone in this sense, but appears in the compound, "livery-stable."