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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  • WHARFINGER
    One who owns or keeps a wharf for the purpose of receiving and shipping merchandise to or from it for hire.
  • WHEEL
    An engine of torture used in medieval Europe, on which a criminal was bound while his limbs were broken one by one till he died.
  • WHEELAGE
    Duty or toll paid for carts, etc, passing over certain ground. Cowell.
  • WHEN AND WHERE
    Technical words In pleading, formerly necessary in making full defense to certain actions.
  • WHENEVER
    This word, though often used as equivalent to "as soon as," is also often used where the time intended by it is, and will be until its arrival, or for some uncertain period, at least, Indeterminate. Robinson v. Greene, 14 R. 1.188.
  • WHEREAS
    A word which implies a recital of a past fact. The word "whereas," when it renders the deed senseless or repugnant may be struck out as impertinent and shall not vitiate a deed in other respects sensible.
  • WHIG
    This name was applied in Scotland, A. D. 1648, to those violent Covenanters who opposed the Duke of Hamilton's invasion of England in order to restore Charles I. The appellation of "Whig" and "Tory" to political factions was first heard of in A. D. 1679, and, though as senseless as More...
  • WHIPPING
    A mode of punishment by the infliction of stripes, occasionally used in England and In a few of the American states.
  • WHIPPING-POST
    A post or stake to which a criminal is tied to undergo the punishment of whipping. This penalty ia now abolished, except in a few states.
  • WHITE
    A Mongolian is not a "white person," within the meaning of the term aa nsed in the naturalization laws of the United States; the term applies only to persons of the Caucasian race. In re Ah Yup, 5 Sawy 155, Fed. Cas. No. 104.
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