Pais, Pays
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
Fr. The country; the neighborhood. A trial per pais signifies a trial by the country; that is, by jury. An assurance by matter in pais is an assurance transacted between two or more private persons "In the country;" that is, upon the very spot to be transferred. Matter in pais signifies matter of fact, probably because matters of fact are triable by the country; i. e., by jury; estoppels in pais are estoppels by conduct, as distinguished from estoppels by deed or by record.