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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  • 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.
  • WHITE ACRE
    A fictitious name given to a piece of land, in the English books, for purposes of illustration.
  • WHITE BONNET
    In Scotch law. A fictitious offerer or bidder at a roup or auction sale. Bell.
  • WHITE MEATS
    In old English law. Milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and any composition of them. Cowell.
  • WHITE RENTS
    In English law. Rents paid in silver, and called "white rents," or "redditus albi," to distinguish them from rents payable in corn, labor, provisions, etc., called "black-rent" or "black-mail"
  • WHITE SPURS
    A kind of enquires. Cowell.
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