A Dictionary of Law

In the civil law in Louisiana, by this term is understood that property which the wife brings to the husband to assist him in bearing the expenses of the marriage establishment. Ex

The act of giving a dowry or portion; endowmentin general, including the endowment of a hospital or other charitable institution,

A writ which lay fora widow, when it was judicially ascertained that a tenant to the king was seised of tenemerits in fee or fee-tail at the day of his death, und that he held of t

A writ which lies for a widow to whom no dower has been assigned. 3 Bl. Comm. 182. By 23 & 24 Vict. c. 126, an ordinary action commenced by writ of summons has taken its place; but

Admeasurement of dower, where the widow holds more than her share, etc.

A dowager.

In Scotch law. Double the ordinary or single value of a marriage. Bell. See Dv-

In Scotch law. A

or DOUBLE

In practice. The ordinary single costs of suit, and one-half of that amount in addition, 2 Tidd, Pr. 987. “Double” is not used here in its ordinary sense of “twice” the amount. The

Twice the amount of actual damages as found by the verdict of a jury.

A gold coin of the United States of the value of twenty dollars.

A system of mercantile book-keeping, in which the entries in the day-book, ete., are posted fewice into the ledger. First, to a personal account, that is, to the account of the per

This is not allowed either in the declaration or subsequent pleadings. Its meaning with respect to the former is that the declaration must not, in support of a single demand, alleg

A possibility upon a possibility, 2 Bl. Comm. 170.

In English law. Rent payable by a tenant who continues in possession after the time for which he hag given notice to quit, until the time of lis quilting possession. St. 11 Geo. II

Letters-patent. Cowell.

This is a penalty on a tenant holding over after his landlord's notice to quit. By 4 Geo. II. c. 28, § 1, it is enacted that if any tenant for life or years hold over any lands, et

This was when a common recovery was had, and an estate of freehold was first conveyed to any indifferent person against whom the pracipe was brought, and then he vouched the tenant

When a tenant he is said to commit double waste. Co. Litt. 53.

The uncertainty which exists in relation to a fact, a proposition, or other thing; an equipoise of the mind arising from an equality of contrary reasons. Ayl. Pand. 121. The term “

Lat. I give that you may give; L give [you] that you may give [me.] A formula in the civil law, constituting a general division under which those contracts (termed “innominate”) we

Lat. 1 give that you may do; I give [you] that yon’ may do or make [for me.} A formula in the civil law, under which those contracts were classed in which one party geve or agreed

Doves are animals fere nature, and not the subject of larceny unless Lhey are inthe owner's custody; as, for example, in a dove-house, or when in the nest before they ean iy. 9 Pic

Subject to be charged with dower; as dowable lands. Entitled or entitling to dower. Thus, a dowable interest in lands is such as entitles the owner to have such lands charged with

A widow whois endowed, or who has a jointure in heu of dower. In England, this is a title or addition given to the widows of princes, dukes, earls, and other noblemen, todistinguis

The widow of the king. As such ste enjoys most of the privileges belonging to her as queen consort. It is not treason to conspire her death or violate her chastity, because the suc

The provision which the law makes for a widow out of the lands or tenements of her husband, for her support and the nurture of her children. Co. Litt. 30a; 2 Bl. Comm. 150; 4 Kent,

Dower at the church door or porch. An ancient kind of dower in England, where a man, (being tenant in fee-simple, of full age,) openly at the church dour, where all marriages were

A kind of dower in England, regulated by custom, where the quantity allowed the wife differed from the proportion of the common law; aa some, only a quarter. 2 Bl. Comm. 1382; Litt

The ordinary kind of dower in English and American law, consisting of one-third of the lands of which the husband was seised in fee at any time during the coverture. Litt. § 36; 2

L. Fr. Dower of the fairest [part.] A species of ancient English dower, incident to the old tenures, where there was a guardian in chivalry, and the wife occupied lands of the heir

Dower by the father’s assent. A species of dower ad ostium ecclesie, madé when the husband's father was alive, and the son, by his consent expressly given, endowed his wife with pa

A writ of right which lay for a widow to whom no dower had been assigned.

Stones dividing lands, ete. Cowell.

Io old English law. Endowment; dower.

A woman entitied to dower; atenant in dower, 2P. Wins, 707.

The property which a woman brings to her husband in marriage; now more commoniy called a “portion.” By dowry is meant the effects which the wife brings to the husband to support th

Twelve peers assembled at the instance of the barons, in the reign of Henry ILI., to be privy counselors, or rather conservators of the kingdom.

A term employed in old pleadings and records, to denote a grout. Townsh. Pl. 180. An Athenian silver coin, of the value of about 74d. sterling.

A code of laws prepared by Draco, the celebrated lawgiver of Athens. These laws were exceedingly severe, and the term is now sometimes applied tu any laws of unusual harshness.

The standard, ensign, or military colors borne in war by the ancient kings of England, having the figure of a dragon painted thereon,

The common term for a bill of exchange; as being drawon by one person on another. 2 Bl, Comm. 467. An order for the payment of money drawn by one person on another, It is said to b

Any one who draws or frames a legal document, e. g., a will, cone veyance, pleading, etc.

An interpreter employed in tlhe east, and particularly at the Turkish court,

v. To make dry; to draw off water; torid land of its superfluous moisture by adapting or improving natural watercourses and supplementing them, when necessary, by artificial ditche

7. A trench or ditch to convey water from web land; a channel through which water may flow off. The word has no technical legal meaning. Any hollow space in the ground, natural or

A mere exhibition, spectacle, or scene is not a “dramatic composition,” within the meaning of the copyright laws. 1 Abb. (U. 38.) 856.

A drinking saloon, where liquors are sold to be drunk on the premises,

In old criminal practice. To drag (on a hurdle) to the place of exeeution. Anciently no hurdle was allowed, bul the criminal was actually dragged along the road to the place of exe

In thecustomstlaws, this term denotes an allowance made by the governinent upon the duties due on imported merchandise when the importer, instead of selling it here, re-exports it;

A person to whom a bill of exchange is addressed, and who is requested to pay the amount of money therein mentioned.

The person making a bill of exchanve and addressing it to the drawee.

In patent law. <A representation of the appearance of material objects by means of lines and marks upon paper, eard-board, or other substance.

The presiding oilicer in the hundred court. Anc. Inst. Eng.

Droit-droit. Double right. A union of the right of possession and the right of property. 2Bl, Comm. 199.

or DRENGES. In Saxon law. ‘Tenants incapite. They are said tohe such as, at the coming of William the Conqueror, being put out of their estates, were afterwards restored to them, o

The tenure by which the drenches, or drenges, held their lands,

In old Enghsh law. A driving, especially of cattle. DRIF?T-STUFF. This term signifies, not goods which are the subject of salvage, but matters floating at random, without any known

DROFLAND, or

A view or examination of what cattle are in a forest, chase, etc., that it may be known whether it be surcharged or not; and whose the beasts are, and whether they are commonable,

A road or way over which cattle are driven. 1 Taunt. 279.

Sax. A _ contribution of tenants, in the time of the Saxons, to wards a potation, or ale, provided to entertain the lord, or his steward. Cowell. See

One employed in conducting

or DROTDENNE. A grove or woody place where cattle are kept. Jacob,

Sax. A quit rent, or yearly payment, formerly made by some tenants to the king, or their landlords, for driving their cattle through a manor to fairs or markets. Cowell; Blount.

In French law. Right, justice, equity, law, the whole body of law; also a right. This term exhibits the same ambiguity which is discoverable in the German equivalent, "recht" and t

An ancient writ, directed to the lord of ancient demesne on behalf of those of his tenants who held their lands and tenements by charter in fee-simple, in fee-tail, for life, or in

In French law. ‘That property which is acquired by making a new species out of the material of another. It is equivalent to the Roman “specificatio.™ ceased foreigner, whether mova

A right formerly claimed by the lords of the coasts of certain parts of France, to shipwrecks, by which not only the property, but the persons of those who were cast away, were con

In French fendal law. Right of ward. The guardianship of the estate and person of a noble vassal, to which the king, during his minority, was entitled. Steph. Lect. 250,

In French feudal Jaw. The duty incumbent on a roturier, holding lands within the royal domain, of supplying board and lodging to the king and to his suite while on a royal progress

In old Freneh law. Theright of selling various offices connected with the custody of judicial records or notarial acts. Steph. Lect. 354, A privilege of the French kings.

Incld French law. A charge payable to the crown by any one who, after having served his apprenticeship inany commercial guild or brotherhood, sought to become a master workman in i

In French feudal law. The duty (incumbent on a roturier) of supplying to the King on credit, during a certain period, such articles of domestic con-

In French law. The right of a creditor to pursue the debtor’s property into the hands of third persons for the enforeement of his claim.

In French Jaw. The right of a stockbroker to sell the securities bought by him for account of a client, if the latter does not accept delivery thereof. Thesame expression is also a

A double right; that is, the right of possession and the right of property. These two rights were, by the theory of our ancient law, distinct; and the above phrase was used to indi

In French law. (The written law.) The Roman civii law, or Corpus Juris Ctvilis. Steph. Lect. 180. Droit ne done pluis que soit demaunde. The law gives not more than is demanded. 2

This phrase in French law denotes private rights, the exertise of which is independent of the siatus (qualité) of citizen. Foreigners enjoy them; and the extent of that enjoyment i

Rights or perquisites of the admiralty. A term applied to goods found derelict at sea. Applied also to property captured in time of war by non-commissioned vessels of a belligerent

What belongs of right; relating to right; as real actions are either droitural or possessory,—droittural when the plaintiff seeks to recover the property. Finch, Law, 257.

A letter addressed for delivery in the same city ordistrict in which it is posted.

In Seotch law. A road for driving cattle. 7 Bell, App. Cas. 43, 53,57. A drift-road. Lord Brougham, Id.

In Scotch law. A place adjoining a drove-road, for resting and refreshing sheep anid cattle on their journey. 7 Bell, App. Cas. 53, 57.

‘To mergeor sink. “In some cases a right of freehold shall drown in a chattel.” Co. Litt. 2664, 321e.

A thicket of wood in a valley. Domesday.

The general name of substances used in medicine; any substance, vegetable, animal, or mineral, used in the composition or preparation of medicines, The term is also applied to mate

A term applied to commercial agents who travel for wholesale merchants and supply the retail trade with goods, or take orders fur goods to be shipped to the retail dealer. 4 Lea, 9

In medical jurisprudence. The condition of 4 man whose mind DRY-CR#HET. Witcheraft; magic. Anc. Inst. Eng.

In old European law. The commander of a drungus, or band of soldiers. Applied also toa naval commander. Spelman.

In old European law. A band of soldiers, (globus militum.) Spelman.

Heis a drunkard whose habit itis to get drunk; whose ebriety has become habitual. The terms “drunkard” and “habitual drunkard” mean the same thing. & Gray, $5.

In English law. A term formerly in use, said to have been invented for the purpose of disguising and covering usury; something being pretended to pass on both sides, whereas, in tr

A Saxon word, signifying a tribute or yearly payment made by some tenants to the king, or their landlords, for driving their cattle through a manor to fairs or markets. Cowell.

In Scotch law. Corn paid to the owner of a mill, whether the payers grind or not.

Lent-seck; arent reserved without a clause of distress.

A passive trust; one which requires no action on the part of the trustee beyond turning over money or property to the cestué que trust.

A form of government where two reign jointly. Duas uxores eodem tempore habere non licet. It is not lawful to have two wives at thesame time. Inst. 1, 10,6; 12). Comm. 436.