Country

The portion of the earth's surface occupied by an independent nation or people; or the inhabitants of such territory. In its primary meaning "country" signifies "place;" and, in a larger sense, the territory or dominions occupied by a community; or even waste and unpeopled sections or regions of the earth. But its metaphorical meaning is no less definite and well understood; and m common parlance, in historical and geographical writings, in diplomacy, legislation, treaties, and international codes, the word is employed to denote the population; the nation, the state, or the government, having possession and dominion over a territory.

Stairs v. Peaslee, 18 How. 52l, 15 L. Eld. 474; U. S. v. Recorder, 1 Blatchf. 218, 225, 5 N. Y. Leg. Obs. 286, Fed. Cas. No. 16,129.

In pleading and practice. The inhabitants of a district from which a jury ls to be summoned; pais; a Jnry. 3 Bl. Comm. S49; Stephi PL 73, 78, 230.