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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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BAYOU
A species of creek or stream common in Louisiana and Texas. An outlet from a swamp, pond, or lagoon, to a river, or the sea. See Surgett v. Laplce, 8 How. 48, 70, 12 L. Ed. 982. .

A species of creek or stream common in Louisiana and Texas. An outlet from a swamp, pond, or lagoon, to a river, or the sea. See Surgett v. Laplce, 8 How. 48, 70, 12 L. Ed. 982. . Less...
BEACH
This term, in its ordinary signification, when applied to a place on tide waters, means the space between ordinary high and low water mark, or the space over which the tide usually ebbs and flows. It is a term not more significant of a sea margin than "shore." Niles v. More...

This term, in its ordinary signification, when applied to a place on tide waters, means the space between ordinary high and low water mark, or the space over which the tide usually ebbs and flows. It is a term not more significant of a sea margin than "shore." Niles v. Patch, 13 Gray (Mass.) 257. The term designates land washed by the sea and its waves: is synonymous with "shore." Littlefield v. Littlefield, 28 Me. 180. When used in reference to places near the sea, beach means the land between the lines of high water and low water, over which the tide ebbs and flows. Hodge v. Boothby, 48 Me. 68. Beach means the shore or strand. Cutts v. Ilussey. 15 Me. 237. Beach, when used in reference to places anywhere in the vicinity of the sea, means the territory lying between, the lines of high water and low water, over which the tide ebbs and flows. It is in this respect synonymous with "shore," "strand," or "flats." Doane v. Will-cutt, 5 Gray (Mass.) 328, 335, 66 Am. Dec. 369. Beach generally denotes land between high and low water mark. East Hampton v. Kirk, 6 Hun (N. Y.) 257. To "beach" a ship is to run it upon the beach or shore; this is frequently found necessary in case of fire, a leak, etc. Less...
BEACON
A light-house, or sea-mark, formerly used to alarm the country, in case of the approach of an enemy, but now used for the guidance of ships at sea, by night, as well as by day.

A light-house, or sea-mark, formerly used to alarm the country, in case of the approach of an enemy, but now used for the guidance of ships at sea, by night, as well as by day. Less...
BEACONAGE
Money paid for the maintenance of a beacon or signal-light.

Money paid for the maintenance of a beacon or signal-light. Less...
BEADLE
In English ecclesiastical law. An inferior parish officer, who is chosen by the vestry, and whose business is to attend the vestry, to give notice of its meetings, to execute its orders, to attend upon inquests, and to assist the constables. Wharton.

In English ecclesiastical law. An inferior parish officer, who is chosen by the vestry, and whose business is to attend the vestry, to give notice of its meetings, to execute its orders, to attend upon inquests, and to assist the constables. Wharton. Less...
BEAMS AND BALANCE
Instruments for weighing goods and merchandise.

Instruments for weighing goods and merchandise. Less...
BEAR
To support, sustain, or carry; to give rise to, or to produce, something else as an incident or auxiliary. -Bear arms. To carry arms as weapons and with reference to their military use, not to wear them about the person as part of the dress. Aymette v. State, 2 Humph. More...

To support, sustain, or carry; to give rise to, or to produce, something else as an incident or auxiliary. -Bear arms. To carry arms as weapons and with reference to their military use, not to wear them about the person as part of the dress. Aymette v. State, 2 Humph. (Tenn.) 158. As applied to fire-arms, includes the right to load and shoot them, and to use them as such things are generally used. Hill v. State, 53 Ga. 480. -Bear interest. To generate interest, so that the instrument or loan spoken of shall produce or yield interest at the rate specified by the parties or granted by law. Slaughter v. Slaughter, 21 Ind. App. 641, 52 N. E. 995.- Bearer. One who carries or holds a thing. When a check, note, draft, etc., is payable to "bearer," it imports that the contents thereof shall be payable to any person who may present the instrument for payment. Thompson v. Perrine, 106 TJ. S. 589, 1 Sup. Ct. 564, 56a 27 L. Ed. 298; Bradford v. Jenks. 3 Fed. Cas. 1,132; Hubbard v. Railroad Co., 14 Abb. Prac. (N. Y.) 278.-Bearers. In old English law. Those who bore down upon or oppressed others; maintainers. Cowell.-Bearing date. Disclosing a date on its face; having a certain date. These words are often used in conveyancing, and in pleading, to introduce the date which has been put upon an instrument. Less...
BEAST
An animal; a domestic animal; a quadruped, such as may be used for food or In labor or for sport. -Beasts of the chase. In English law. The buck, doe, fox, martin, and roe. Co. Litt. 233a.-Beasts of the forest. In English law. The hart, hind, hare, boar, and wolf. More...

An animal; a domestic animal; a quadruped, such as may be used for food or In labor or for sport. -Beasts of the chase. In English law. The buck, doe, fox, martin, and roe. Co. Litt. 233a.-Beasts of the forest. In English law. The hart, hind, hare, boar, and wolf. Co. Litt. 233a.-Beasts of the plow. An old term for animals employed in the operations of husbandry, including horses. Somers v. Emerson, 58 N. H. 49.-Beasts of the warren. In English law. Hares, coneys, and roes. Co. Litt. 233 ; 2 Bl. Comm. 39.-Beastgate. In Suffolk, England, imports land and common for one beast. Bennington v. Goodtitle, 2 Strange, 10S4; Rose. Real Act. 485. Less...
BEAT
v. In the criminal law and law of torts, with reference to assault and battery, this term includes any unlawful physical violence offered to another. See BATTERY. In other connections, it is understood in a more restricted sense, and includes only the infliction of one or more blows. Regina v. More...

v. In the criminal law and law of torts, with reference to assault and battery, this term includes any unlawful physical violence offered to another. See BATTERY. In other connections, it is understood in a more restricted sense, and includes only the infliction of one or more blows. Regina v. Hale, 2 Car. A K. 327; Com. v. McClellan, 101 Mass. 35; State v. Harrigan, 4 Penne-will (Del.) 129, 55 Atl. 5. Less...
BEAT
n. In some of the southern states (as Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina) the principal legal subdivision of a county, corresponding to towns or townships in other states; or a voting precinct Williams v. Pearson, 38 Ala. 30S.

n. In some of the southern states (as Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina) the principal legal subdivision of a county, corresponding to towns or townships in other states; or a voting precinct Williams v. Pearson, 38 Ala. 30S. Less...

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