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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  • RIGHTS, PETITION OF
    See PETITION.
  • RIGOR JURIS
    Lat. Strictness of law. Latch, 150. Distinguished from gratia curfor, favor of the court.
  • RIGOR MORTIS
    In medical jurisprudence. Cadaveric rigidity; a rigidity or stiffening of the muscular tissue and joints of the body, which sets in at a greater or less interval after death, but usually within a few hours, and which is one of the recognized tests of death.
  • RING
    A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for illegitimate or selfish purposes; as to control elections or political affairs, distribute offices, obtain contracts, control the market or the stock-exchange, etc. Schomberg v. Walker, 132 Cal. 224, 64 Pac. 290.
  • RING-DROPPING
    A trick variously practiced. One mode is as follows, the circumstances being taken from 2 East, P. C. 678: The prisoner, with accomplices, being with their victim, pretend to find a ring wrapped in paper, appearing to be a jeweler's receipt for a "rich, brilliant diamond ring." They offer to More...
  • RINGING THE CHANGE
    In criminal law. A trick practised by a criminal, by which, on receiving a good piece of money in payment of an article, he pretends It is not good, and, changing it, returns to the buyer a spurious coin. See 2 Leach, 786; Bouvier.
  • RINGING UP
    A custom among commission merchants and brokers, (not unlike the clearing-house system) by which they exchange contracts for sale against contracts for purchase, or reciprocally cancel such contracts, adjust differences of price between themselves, and surrender margins. See Ward v. Vosburgh (C. C.) 31 Fed. 12; Wllllar v. Irwin, 30 More...
  • RINGS, GIVING
    In English practice. A custom observed by Serjeants at law, on being called to that degree or order. The rings are given to the judges, and bear certain mottoes, selected by the serjeant about to take the degree. Brown.
  • RIOT
    In criminal law. A tumultuous disturbance of the peace by three persons or more, assembling together of their own au-, tborlty, with an intent mutually to assist each other against any who shall oppose them, in the execution of some enterprise of a private nature, and afterwards actually executing the More...
  • RIOTOSE
    L. Lat Riotously. A formal and essential word In old indictments for riots. 2 Strange, 834.
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