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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  • PIONEER PATENT
    See PATENT.
  • PIOUS USES
    See CHARITABLE USES.
  • PIPE
    A roll in the exchequer; otherwise called the "great roll." A liquid measure containing two hogsheads.
  • PIRACY
    In criminal law. A robbery or forcible depredation on the high seas, without lawful authority, done animo fur-andi, in the spirit and intention of universal hostility. United States v. Palmer, 3 Wheat 010, 4 L, Ed. 471. This is the definition of this offense by the law of nations. 1 More...
  • PIRATE
    A person who lives by piracy; one guilty of the crime of piracy. A sea-robber, who, to enrich himself, by subtlety or open force, setteth upon merchants and others trading by sea, despoiling them of their loading, and sometimes bereaving them of life and sinking their ships. Ridley, Civil & More...
  • PIRATICAL
    "Where the act uses the word 'piratical,' It does so in a general sense; importing that the aggression is unauthorized by the law of nations, hostile in its character, wanton and criminal in its commission, and utterly without any sanction from any public authority or sovereign power. In short it More...
  • PIRATICALLY
    A technical word which must always be used in an indictment for piracy. 3 Inst 112.
  • PISCARY
    The right or privilege of fishing. Thus, common of piscary is the right of fishing in waters belonging to another person.
  • PISTAREEN
    A small Spanish coin. It is not made current by the laws of the United States.- United States v. Gardner* 10 Pet 618> 9 L. Ed. 556.
  • PIT
    In old Scotch law. An excavation or cavity in the earth in which women who were under sentence of death were drowned.
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