Bloodwit
Defined in 6 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Burrill (1850)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
An amercement for. bloodshed. Cowell. The privilege of taking such amercements. Skene de Verb. Sign. A privilege or exemption from paying a fine or amercement assessed for bloodshed. Cowell; Kennett, Par. Ant.; Termes de la Ley. in a person caught trespassing in the forest against venison, was one of the four kinds of circumstantial evidence of his having killed deer, although he was not found in the act of chasing or hunting. Manw. For. Law; Cowell. See "Backbear." Corresponds to the Scotch "Red Hand." Blount.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
An amercement for bloodshed. Cowell. The privilege of taking such amercements. Skene. A privilege or exemplion from paying a fine or amercement assessed for bloodshed. Cowell; Termes de la Ley.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
blodwite, blodwyte.
In Saxon law. An amerciament for the shedding of blood; an immunity f rora amercement for the shedding of blood.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
Blodwite. [L. Lat. blodwita, blotwyta; from Sax. blod, blood, and wite, an amercement.] In Saxon law. An amerciament for bloodshed, (mulcta effusi sanguinis.) Spelman. Called by Scotch writers bluidveit. Skene de Verb. Signif. A customary fine paid as a composition and atonement for the shedding or drawing blood. Cowell. To have bloodwit, in old charters, was to have the privilege of taking cognizance of the crime, and of receiving the fines resulting from it. Spelman, voc. Blodwita.