Definition of Check

n. A draft or order upon a bank or banking-house, purporting to be drawn upon a deposit of funds, for the payment at all events of a certain sum of money to a certain person therein named or to him or hls order or to bearer, and payable instantly on demand. 2 Daniel, Neg. Inst. § 1566; Bank v. Patton, 109 111. 484; Douglass v. Wllkeson, 6 Wend. (N. Y.) 643; Thompson v. State, 49 Ala. 18; Bank v. Wheaton, 4 R. I. 33. A check is a bill of exchange drawn upon a bank or banker, or a person described as such upon the face thereof, and payable on demand, without interest Civ. Code Cal. § 3254; Civ. Code Dak. § 1933. A check differs from an ordinary bill of exchange in the following particulars:
(1) It is drawn on a bank or bankers, and is payable immediately on presentment, without any days of grace.
(2) It is payable immediately on presentment, and no acceptance as distinct from payment is required.
(3) By its terms it is supposed to be drawn upon a previous deposit of funds, and ls an absolute appropriation of so much money in the hands of the bankers to the holder of the check, to remain there until called for, and cannot after notice be withdrawn by the drawer. Merchants' Nat. Bank v. State Nat. Bank, 10 Wall. 647, 19 L. Ed. 1008; In re Brown, 4 Fed. Cas. 342; People v. Compton, 123 Cub 403, 56 Pac. 44.
—Chech-book. A book containing blank checks on a particular bank or banker, with an inner margin, calied a "stub," on which to note the number of each check, its amount and date, and the payee's name, and a memorandum of the balance in bsnk.
—Crossed check. A check crossed with two lines, between which are either the name of a bank or the voids "and company," in full or abbreviated. In the former case, the banker on whom it is drawn must not pay the money for the check to any other than the banker named ; in the latter case, he must not pay it to any other tban a banker. 2 Steph. Comm. 118, note c.
—Memorandum check. A check given by a borrower to a lender, for the amount of a short loan, with the understanding that it is not to be presented at the bank, but will be redeemed by the maker himself when the loan fails due. This understanding is evidenced by writing the word "Mem." on the check. This la not unusual among merchants. See U. S. v. Is-ham, 17 Wail. 502, 21 In Ed. 728; Turnbull v. Osborne, 12 Abb. Prac. (N. S.) (N. Y.) 202; Franklin Bank v. Freeman, 16 Pick. (Mass.) 539.