Defensive Allegation
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
In English ecclesiastical law. A species of pleading, where the defendant, instead of denying the plaintiff's charge upon oath, has any circumstances to offer in his defense. This entities him, in his turn, to the plaintiff's answer upon oath, upon which he may proceed to proofs as well as hls antagonist.
3 Bl. Comm. 100; 3 Steph. Comin. 720.