Contumacy

[Lat. contumacia, contumacitas.] In practice. Disobedience to the rules or orders of a court, especially a refusal to appear in court when legally summoned.

Wharton's Lex

Used as a synonyme of contempt, although it seems properly to have a stronger meaning, as of open contempt, or contempt wilfully and stubbornly persisted in.

Reg. Orig. 65.

Bract. fol.

127 b.