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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  • BARRISTER
    In English law. An advocate; one who has been called to the bar. A counsellor learned in the law who pleads at the bar of the courts, and who is engaged in conducting the trial or argument of causes. To be distinguished from the attorney, who draws the pleadings, prepares More...
  • BARTER
    A contract by which parties exchange goods or commodities for other goods. It differs from sale, in this: that in the latter transaction goods or property are always exchanged for money. Guerreiro v. Peile, 3 Barn. & Aid. 617; Cooper v. State, 37 Ark. 418; Meyer v. Rousseau, 47 Ark. More...
  • BARTON
    In old English law. The demesne land of a manor; a farm distinct from the mansion.
  • BAS
    Fr. Low; inferior; subordinate. -Bas chevaliers. In old English law. Low, or inferior knights, by tenure of a base military fee, as distinguished from barons and bannerets, who. were the chief or superior knights. Cowell.-Bas ville. In French law. The suburbs of a town.
  • BASE
    adj. Low; Inferior; servile; of subordinate degree; Impure, adulterated, or alloyed. -Base animal. See ANIMAL.-Base bullion. Base silver bullion is silver in bars mixed to a greater or less extent with alloys or base materials. Hope Min.' Co. v. Kennon, 3 Mont. 44.-Base coin. Debased, adulterated, or alloyed coin. Gabe More...
  • BASILEUS
    A Greek word, meaning "king." A title assumed by the emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire. It is used by Justinian in some of the Novels; and is said to have been applied to the English kings before the Conquest. See 1 Bl. Comm. 242.
  • BASILICA
    The name given to a compilation of Roman and Greek law, prepared about A. D. 880 by the Emperor Basilius, and published by his successor, Leo the Philosopher. It was written in Greek, was mainly an abridgment of Justinian's Corpus Juris, and comprised sixty books, only a portion of which More...
  • BASILS
    In old English law. A kind of money or coin abolished by Henry II.
  • BASIN
    In admiralty law and marine insurance. A part of the sea inclosed in rocks. U. S. v. Morel, 13 Am. Jur. 286, 26 Fed. Cas. 1,310.
  • BASKET TENURE
    In feudal law. Lands held by the service of making the king's baskets.
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