Keep

n. A strong tower or hold in the middle of any eastle or fortification, wherein the besieged make their last efforts of defense, was formerly, In England, called a "keep;" and the inner plle within the castle of Dover, erected by King Henry II. about the year 1153, was termed the "King's Keep;" so at Windsor, etc. It seems to be something of the same nature with what is called abroad a "citadel."

Jacob. v. 1.

To retain in one's power or possession; not to lose or part with; to preserve or retain.

Benson v. New York, 10 Barb. (N. Y.) 235; Deans v. Gay, 132 N. O. 227, 43 S. E. 64?. 2.

To maintain, carry on, conduct, or manage; as, to "keep" a liquor saloon, bawdy house, gaming table, nuisance, inn, or hotel.

State v. Irvin, 117 Iowa, 469, 91 N. W. 760; Pcople v. Rice, 103 Mich. 350, 61 N. W. 540; State v. Miller, 68 Conn. 33, 36 Atl. 795; State v. Cox, 52 Vt. 474. 3.

To maintain, tend, harbor, feed, and shelter; as, to "keep" a dangerous animal, to "keep" a horse at livery.

Allen v. Ham, 63 Me. 536; Skinner v. Caughey, 64 Minn. 375, 67 N. W. 203. 4.

To maintain continuously and methodically for the purposes of a record; as, to "keep" books.

See Backus v. Richardson, 5 Johns. (N. Y.) 483. 5.

To maintain continuously and without stoppage or variation; as, when a vessel is said to "keep her course," that is, continue in motion in the same general direction in which she was previously sailing.

See The Britannia, 153 U. S. 130, 14 Sup. Ct. 795, 38 L. Ed. 660.

Keep down interest

The expression "keeping down interest" is familiar in legal instruments, and means the payment of interest periodically as it becomes due; but it does not include the payment of all arrears of interest which may have become due on any security from the time when it was executed.

4 El. & BI. 211.

Keep house

The English bankrupt laws use the phrase "keeping house" to denote an act of bankruptcy. It is committed when a trader absents himself from his place of business and retires to his private residence to evade the importunity of creditore. The usual evidence of "keeping house" is refusal to see a creditor who has called on the debtor at his house for money.

Robs. Bankr. 119.

Keep iu repair

When a lessee is bound to keep the premises in repair, he must have them in repair at all times during the term ; and, if they are at any time out of repair, he is guilty of a breach of the covenant.

1 Barn. & Aid. 585.

Keep open

To allow general access to one's shop, for purposes of traffic, is a violation of a statute forbidding him to "keep open" his shop on the Lord's day, although the outer entrances are closed.

Com. v. Harrison, 11 Grav (Mass.) 308.

To "keep open," in the sense of such a law, implies a readiness to carry on the usual business in the store, shop, saloon, etc.

Lynch v. Pcople, 16 Mich. 472

Keeping term

In English law

A duty performed by students of law, consisting in eating a sufficient number of dinners in hall to make the term count for the purpose of being called to the bar.

Mozley 6 Whitley.

Keeping the peace

Avoiding a breach of the peace; dissuading or preventing others from breaking the 'peace.