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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  • PIT AND GALLOWS
    In Scotch law; A privilege of inflicting capital punishment for theft, given by King Malcolin, by which. a woman could be drowned in a pit (fossaj or a man hanged on a gallows, (furco.) Bell.
  • PITCHING-PENCE
    In old English law. Money, commonly a penny, paid for pitching or setting down every bag of corn or pack of goods in a fair or market. Cowell.
  • PITHATISM
    In medical jurisprudence. A term of recent Introduction to medical 'science, signifying curability by means of persuasion, and used as synonymous with "hysteria," in effect limiting the scope of the latter term to the description of psychic or nervous disorders which may be cured uniquely by psychotherapy or persuasion* Babinski.
  • PITTANCE
    A slight repast or refection of fish or flesh more than the common allowance; and the pittancer was the ofllcer who distributed this at certain appointed festivals. Cowell.
  • PIX
    A mode of testing coin. The ascertaining whether coin is of the proper standard is in England called "pixing" it; and there are occasions on which resort is had for this purpose to an ancient mode of Inquisition called the "trial of the pix," before a jury of members of More...
  • PLACARD
    An edict; a declaration; a manifesto. Also an advertisement or public notification.
  • PLACE
    An old form of the word "pleas." Thus the "Court of Common Pleas" - was sometimes called the "Court of Common Place.'
  • PLACE
    This word Is a very indefinite term. It is applied to any locality, limited by boundaries, however large or however o small. It may be used to designate a country, state, county, town, or a very small portion of a town. The extent of the locality designated by It must More...
  • PLACEMAN
    One who exercises a public employment, or fills a public station.
  • PLACER
    In mining law. A superficial deposit of sand, gravel, or disintegrated rock, carrying one or more of the precious metals, along the course or under the bed of a water-course, ancient or current, or along the shore of the sea. Under the acts of congress, the term includes all forms More...
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