Neck Verse
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary · Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
A cant term for the verse which the ordinary gave a malefactor who prayed his clergy to read, and by reading which he escaped hanging. The flrst verse of the 51st Psalm, being that ordinarily given, was called the "neck verse." NEFAS (Lat.) That which is against right or the divine law (/as). A wicked or impious thing or act. Calv. Lex. NEFASTUS (Lat.) In Roman law. A term applied to a day on which it was unlawful to administer justice.
Adams, Rom. Ant. 129.
NEGATIO CONCLUSIONIS EST ERROR In lege. The denial of a conclusion is error in law.
Wingate, Max. 268.