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.

Search
  • OCEAN
    The main or open sea; the high sea; that portion of the sea which does not lie within the body of any country and is not subject to the territorial jurisdic* tion or control of any country, but is open, free, and. common, to the. use of all nations. See More...
  • OCHIERN
    In old Scotch law. A name of dignity; a freeholder. Skene de Verb. Sign.
  • OCHLOCRACY
    Government by the multitude. A form of government wherein the populace has the whole power and administration In its own hands.
  • OCTAVE
    In old English law. .. The eighth day inclusive after a feast; one of the return days of writs. 3 Bl. Comm. 278.
  • OCTO TALES
    Eight such; eight such men; eight such jurors. The name of a writ, at common law, which issues when upon a trial at bar, eight more jurors are necf essary to fill the panel, commanding the sheriff to summon the requisite number. 3 BL Comm. 364. See DECEM TALES.
  • OCTROI
    Fr. In French law. Originally, a duty, which, by the permission of the seigneur, any city was accustomed to collect on liquors and some other goods, brought within its precincts, for the consumption of the inhabitants. Afterwards appropriated to the use of the king. Steph. Jject. p. 361. Odemnt peeeare More...
  • ODHAL
    Complete property, as opposed to feudal tenure. The transposition of the syllables of "odhal" makes it "allodh," and hence, according to Blackstone, arises the word "allod" or "allodial," (q. v.) "Allodhn is thus put in contradistinction to "fecodh.V Mozley A Whitley.
  • ODIO ET ATIA
    A writ anciently called "breve de bono et malo," addressed to the sheriff to inquire whether a man committed to prison upon suspicion of murder were committed on just cause of suspicion, or only upon malice and ill will; and if, upon the Inquisition, it were found that he was More...
  • CECONOMICUS
    L. Lat In old English law. The executor of a last will and testament Cowell.
  • CECONOMUS
    Lat In the civil law. A manager or administrator.; Calvin.
Showing 9940 of 14636