Mulier

Of ancient time, "mu Uer" was taken for a wife, as it is commonly used for a woman, and sometimes for a widow; but it has been held that a virgin is included under the name "mulier." Co. Litt. 170, 243; 2 Bl. Comm. 248. The term is used always in contradistinction to a bastard, mulier being always legitimate (Co. Litt. 243), and seems to be a word corrupted from melior, or the French meilleur, signifying lawful issue born in wedlock. But by Glanville, lawful issue are said to be mulier, not from melior, but because begotten e muliere and not ea concubina, for he calls such issue f Uiog mulieratos, opposing them to bastards. Glanv. lib. 7, c. 1. If the said lands "should, according to the queen's lawes, descend to the borne, and the other not so borne." Holinshead, Chron. Ireland, an. 1558, MULIER PUISNE (Law Fr.) When a man has a bastard son, and afterwards marries the mother, and by her has also a legitimate son, the elder son is bastard eigne, and the younger son is mulier puisne. MULTA CONCEDUNTUR PER OBLIQUum quae non conceduntur de directo. Many things are conceded indirectly which are not allowed directly. 6 Coke, 47.

1. I.

In old English and Scots law. A lawful son; the son of a mulier, or lawful wife; a wife or married woman. Mulier puisne: a younger lawful son.

In the civil law. A marriageable virgin; a woman not a virgin; a married woman; a mother; a woman, in general.

Lat. (1) A woman; (2) a virgin; (8) a wife; (4) a legitimate ciild. 1 inst. 243.