Cross Examination
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary · Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
In practice
The examination of a witness by the party opposed to the party who has first examined him, in order to test the truth of such first or direct examination, which is also called examination in chief.* Cross examination is usually by the party who did not call the witness; but the courts frequently permit an adverse witness to be cross examined by the party who calls him.
1 Siarkie on Evidence, 187, 188.