Earnest
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
The payment of a part of the price of goods sold or the delivery of part of such goods, for the purpose of binding the contract.
Howe v. Hayward, 108 Mass. 54, 11 Am. Rep. 306.
A token or pledge passing between the parties, by way of evidence, or ratification of the sale.
2 Kent, Comm. 495, note.