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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  • HIDAGE
    An extraordinary tax formerly payable to the crown for every hide of land. This taxation was levied, not in money, but provision of armor, etc Cowell.
  • HIDALGO
    In Spanish law. A noble; a person entitled to the rights of nobility. By hidalgos are understood men chosen from good situations in life, (de buenos lugures,) and possessed, of property, (algo.) White, New Recop. b. 1, tit. 5, c. 1.
  • HIDALGUIA
    In Spanish law. Nobility by descent or lineage. White, New Recop. b, 1, tit 5, c 8, s 4.
  • HIDE
    In old English law. A measure of land, being as much as could be worked with one plow. It is variously estimated at from 60 to 100 acres, but was probably determined by local usage. Another meaning was as much land as would support one family or the dwellers in More...
  • HIDEL
    In old English law. A place of protection; a sanctuary. St 1 Hen. VII. cc 5, 6; Cowell.
  • HIDGILD
    A sum of money paid by a villein or servant to save himself from a whipping. Fleta, L 1, c 47, I 20.
  • HIERARCHY
    Originally, government by a body of priests. Now, the body of officers in any church or ecclesiastical institution, considered as forming an ascending series of ranks or degrees of power and authority, with the correlative subjection, each to the one next above. Derivatively, any body of men, taken in their More...
  • HIGH
    This term, as used in various compound legal phrases, is sometimes merely an addition of dignity, not importing a comparison ; but more generally It means exalted, either in rank or location, or occupying a position of superiority, and in a few instances it implies superiority in respect to importance, More...
  • HIGHER AND LOWER SCALE
    In the practice of the English supreme court of judicature there are two scales regulating the fees of the court and the fees which solicitors are entitled to charge. The lower scale applies (unless the court otherwise orders) to the following cases: All causes and matters assigned by the judicature More...
  • HIGHNESS
    A title of honor given to princes. The kings of England, before the time of James I., were not usually saluted with the title of "Majesty," but with that of "Highness." The children of crowned heads generally receive the style of "Highness." Wharton.
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