Legal Term Dictionary

Search our free database of thousands of legal terms. The easiest-to-read, most user-friendly guide to legal terms.This dictionary is from the early 20th century and is not to be construed as legal advice.

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  • BIRRETUM, BIRRETUS
    A cap or coif used formerly in England by judges and Serjeants at law. Spelman.
  • BIRTH
    The act of being born or wholly brought into separate existence. Wallace v. State, 10 Tex. App. 270.
  • BIS
    Lat Twice. Bis Idem exlgi bona fides non patitnr; et in satlsfaetionibns non permittitnr amplins fieri qnam semel factum est. Good faith does not suffer the same thing to be demanded twice; and in making satisfaction [for a debt or demand] it is not allowed to be done more than More...
  • BISAILE
    The father of one's grandfather or grandmother.
  • BISANTIUM, BESANTINE, BEZANT
    An ancient coin, first issued at Constantinople ; it was of two sorts,-gold, equivalent to a ducat, valued at 9s. 6d.; and silver, computed at 2s. They were both current in England. Wharton.
  • BI-SCOT
    In old English law. A fine imposed for not repairing banks, ditches, and causeways.
  • BISHOP
    In English law. An ecclesiastical dignitary, being the chief of the clergy within his diocese, subject to the archbishop of the province in which his diocese Is situated. Most of the bishops are also members of the House of Lords.
  • BISHOPRIC
    In ecclesiastical law. The diocese of a bishop, or the circuit in which he has jurisdiction; the office of a bishop. 1 Bl. Comm. 377-382.
  • BISHOP'S COURT
    In English law. An ecclesiastical court, held in the cathedral of each diocese, the Judge whereof is the bishop's chancellor, who judges by the civil canon law; and, if the diocese be large, he has his commissaries in remote parts, who hold consistory courts, for matters limited to them by More...
  • BISSEXTILE
    The day which is added every fourth year to the month of February. in order to make the year.agree with the course of tbe sun. Leap year, consisting of 306 days, and happening every fourth year, by the addition of a day in the month of February, which in that More...
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