Garnishment

[L. Fr. garnisiement, garnement, from garnir, to warn or furnish.] In old English law. A warning; a furnishing. A warning given to one for his appearance, for the better furnishing the court and cause.

Cowell. Blount.

A warning or summons to a party to appear and give the court instruction on any matter.

Crabb's Hist. 422.

In the old action of detinue of charters, the defendant might say that the charters were delivered to him by the plaintiff and another upon certain conditions, and pray that the other might be warned to plead with the plaintiff whether the conditions were performed or not; the object of the warning or garnishment thus prayed for being, to furnish the court with all parties to the action, so that it might the more advantageously determine the cause. Termes de la ley.

Cowell. Blount.

It was nearly allied to the proceedings in interpleader.

3 Reeves' Hist. 448.

The definition of Cowell, above given, is intended to embrace both the significations of garnishment.