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Glossary
ad aliud examen:
To another tribunal, belonging to another court, cognizance, or jurisductions.R
altum mare: In old English law, the high sea, or seas.
The deep sea. Super altum mare, on the high seas.R
Bottomry:
(1)In maritime law, a contract by which the owner of a
ship borrows for the use, equipment or repairs of the vessel, and for a definite
term, and pledges the ship (or the keel or bottom of the ship, pars pro toto)
as security; it being stipulated that if the ship be lost in the specified voyage,
or during the limited time, by any of the perils enumerated, the lender shall
lose his money.R
(2)A contract by which a ship or its freightage is hypothecated as security for a loan, which is to be repaid only in case the ship survives a particular risk, voyage or period. The contract is usually in the form of a bond. When the loan is not made on the ship but on the goods on board, and which are to be sold or exchanged in the course of the voyage, the borrower's personal responsibility is deemed the principal security for the performance of the contract, which is therefore called "respondentia".R
CIHM:
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions, was established
in 1978 to locate early printed Canadian materials (books, annuals, and periodicals),
preserve their content on microfilm, and make the resulting Early Canadiana Research
Collection available to libraries and archives in Canada and abroad.
( http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/cihm/ )
compensatio injuriarum:
The compensation or set-off of one injurious crime against another.
co nomine:
Definition pending clarification.
Conversion:
An unauthorized assumption and exercise of the right
of ownership over goods or personal chattels belonging to another, to the
alteration of their condition or the exclusion of the owner's right. Any
unauthorized act which deprives an owner of his property permanently or
for an indefinite time. Unauthorized and wrongful exercise of dominion
and control over another's personal property, to exclusion of or inconsistent
with rights of owner.R
Covenant:
An agreement, convention, or promise of two or more parties,
by deed in writing, signed and delivered, by which either of the parties pledges
himself to the other that something is either done, or shall be done, or shall
not be done, or stipulates for the truth of certain facts. Under common law,
such agreements were required to be under seal. The term is currently used primarily
with respect to promises in conveyances or other instruments relating to real estate.
R
Deodand:
(1)In English law, "a personal chattel which, having been the immediate occasion of the death of a person, was forefeited to the Crown to be applied to pious uses." (Abolished in 1846. Could be a sum in lieu of the deodand itself. Source: "Oxford English Dictionary."
(2)Deodand means something "given to God" (deo-dandum). This was the case when a man met with his death through injuries inflicted by some chattel, as by the fall of a ladder, the toss of a bull, or the kick of a horse. In such cases the cause of death was sold, and the proceeds given to the Church. The custom was based on the doctrine of purgatory. As the person was sent to his account without the sacrament of extreme unction, the money thus raised served to pay for masses for his repose. Deodands were abolished September 1st, 1846.R
(3)Deodand, English law. This word is derived from Deo dandum, to be given to God; and is used to designate the instrument, whether it be an animal or inanimate thing, which has caused the death of a man. 3 Inst. 57; Hawk. bk. 1, c. 8.R
(4)The deodand is forfeited to the king, and was formerly applied to pious uses. But the presentment of a deodand by a grand jury, under their general charge from the judge of assize, is void. 1 Burr. Rep. 17.R
Derelict:
Something voluntarily abandoned, esp. a ship abandoned on the high seas.R
dominus mercium:
Master of the marketplace.R
est judicis ampliare jurisdictionem:
With the court, (or judge) there is ample jurisdiction.R
expressum, facit cessare tacitum:
That which is expressed
makes that which is implied to cease (that is, supersedes it, or controls
its effect). Thus, an implied covenant in a deed is in all cases controlled
by an express covenant. Where a law sets down plainly its whole meaning the
court is prevented from making it mean what the court pleases.R
ex professo:
Definition pending clarification.
Flotsam:
Cargo or wreckage which remains afloat after a vessel has sunk, or which is washed overboard.R
Flushing:
A rough thick wollen cloth (originally made in Flushing/Vlissingen).
Hansiatic:
Pertaining to a hance or commercial alliance; but, generally, the
union of the Hanse Towns is the one referred to, as in the expression,
the "Hanseatic League".R
Hanseatic ordinance of 1614: Definition pending clarification.
High wine:
Wine from the higher lands 30-40 miles ast of Bordeaux.
Hogshead:
A large cask or barrel, especially one containing from 50 to 112
imperial gallons; (about 238 to 530 litres).R
Homo sum, humani nil à me alienum puto:
Hypotheca:
"Hypotheca" was a term of the Roman law, and denoted a pledge or mortgage. As
distinguished from the term "pignus", in the same law, it denoted a
mortgage, whether of lands or of goods, in which the subject in pledge remained
in the possession of the mortgage or debtor; where as in the pignus
the mortgagee or creditor was in the possession. Such an hypotheca might be
either express or implied; express, where the parties upon the occasion of the
loan entered into express agreement to that effect; or implied, as, e.g.
in the case of the stock and utensils of a farmer, which were subject to the
landlord's right as a creditor for rent; whence the Scotch law of hypotheca.
The word has suggested the term "hypothecate," as used in the mercantile
and maritime law of England. Thus, under the factor's act, goods are frequently
said to be "hypothecated;" and a captain is said to have a right to hypothecate
his vessel for necessary repairs.
R
in banco:
In bank, in the bench. A term aplied to proceedings in the court in bank, as
distinguished from the proceedings at nisi prius. Also in the English
court of common bench. R
infra corpus comitatus:
Within the body (territorial limits) of a country. In English law,
water which are infra corpus comitatus are exempt from the jurisdiction
of Admiralty. R
in personam:
Against the person. Action seeking judgment against a person
involving his personal rights and based on jurisdiction of his person, as
distinguished from a judgment against property (i.e., in rem). Type of jurisdiction
or power which a court may acquire over the defendant himself in contract to
jurisdiction over his property.R
in re:
In the affair, in the matter of, concerning, regarding.
This is the usual method of entitling a judicial proceeding in which there
are not adversary parties, but merely some resG concerning which
judicial action is to be taken, such as a bankrupt's estate, and estate
in the probate court, a proposed public highway, etc.
R
in rem:
A technical term used to designate proceedings or actions instituted
against the thing, in contradistinction to personal actions, where
are said to be in personam.R
in specie:
Specific; specifically. Thus, to decree performance in specie is to decree
specific performance. In kind; in the same or like form. A thing is said to
exist in specie when it retains its existance as a distinct indivudual
of a particular class.R
Interlocutory decree:
An interlocutory decree is one which does not
finally determine a cause of action but only decides some intervening matter
pertaining to the cause, and which requires further steps to be taken in order
to enable the court to adjudicate the cause on the merits.R
Jetsam:
Cargo or wreckage thrown overboard, usually to lighten a vessel in distress, such as when it is hard aground or in danger of foundering.R
Lagan:
Cargo or equipment thrown into the sea from a vessel in distress, but attached to a float or buoy to enable its recovery.R
Latet anguis in herba.
A snake lurks in the grass.
R
Lex mercatoria:
The law-merchant; commercial law.
That system of laws which is accepted by all commercial nations, and constitutes
a part of the law of the land. It is part of the common law.R
Lien:
Roman or Civil law. The peculiar securities which, in the common and
maritime law and equity, are termed "liens" are embraced under the head of
"mortgage and privilege."R
Long ell:
A former English unit of length for cloth equal to 45 inches (about 1.14 metres).
Old english eln.
locus conclusus quo importantur merces et exportantur:
The end is where the wages are paid out.
R
locus in quo:
The place in which. The place in which the cause of action arose, or where anything is alleged, in pleading to have been
done. The phrase is most frequently used in actions of trespass quare clausum fregit.
G
R
Merino:
(1) Any of a breed of fine-wooled white sheep producing a heavy fleece
(2) A soft wool or wool and cotton fabric resembling cashmere.
(3) A fine woodland cotton yarn.R
modo et forma:
In manner and form. Words used in the old Latin form of pleadings by way of
traverse, and literally translated in the modern precedents, importing that
the party traversing denies the allegation of the other party, not only in
its general effect, but in the exact manner and form in which it is made.
R
Moitie:
The half of anything. Joint tenants are said to hold by moieties.
R
Nemo debet locupletari aliena jactura.
"No one ought to be enriched by another's loss".
R
Odium:
Condition or fact of being subjected to hatred and dislike. In venue statute,
it implies such a general ill-feeling towards a party to an action as will
render it uncertain whether the cause can be tried by impartial triers, free
from an admosphere impregnated with malice or corrupting prejudices.
R
Omnibus modis quibus verita scire potest:
There are many ways in which the truth may be reached.
R
Onus probandi:
Burden of proving; the burden of proof.
The strict meaning of the term "onus probandi" is that, if no evidence is adduced
by the party on whom the burden is cast, the issue must be found against him.
R
Pars pro toto
In bottomry, where a loan is secured by the pledge of the keel of a ship
owned by the borrower, it is considered "pars pro toto"; i.e., the part (keel)
for the whole (of the ship).
R
Pea jacket:
A heavy woolen double-breasted jacket worn chiefly by sailors. (by folk etymology
from Dutch pijjekker, from pij, a kind of cloth + jekker, "jacket").R
Pipe:
(a)A large cask used especially for wine and oil.
(b)Any of various units of liquid capacity based on the size of a pipe, especially,
a unit capacity equal to 2 hogsheads (about 477 litres).R
plus cautienis in rem, quam in persona:
Let there be greater care taken in dealing with real property than personal.
R
pro opere et labore:
pro rata itinerts per acti:
Proportionate to the actual route or distance
carried.R
quantum meruit:
"Quantum meruit" as amount of recovery means "as much as deserved" and
measures recovery under implied contract to pay compensation as reasonable
value of services rendered.R
quare clausum fregit.:
Wherefore he broke the close.
That species of the action of trespass which has for its object the recovery
of damages from an unlawful entry upon another's land is termed "trespass
quare clausum fregit; "breaking a close" being the technical expression
for all unlawful entry upon land. The language of the declaration in this
form of action is "that the defendant with force and arms, broke and entered
the close" of the plaintiff. The phrase is often abbreviated to "qu. cl. fr."
or "q.c.f.R
Qui tam:
"Qui tam" is the abbreviation of the Latin phrase "qui tam pro domino
rege quam pro si ipso in bac parte sequitur", meaning "Who sues on behalf of
the King as well as for himself". It is an action brought by an informer,
under a statute which establishes a penalty for the commission or omission
of a certain act, and provides that the same shall be recoverable in a
civil action, part of the penalty to go to any person who will bring such
action and the remainder to the state or some other institution. It is
called a ""qui tam action" because the plaintiff states that he sues
as well for the state as for himself.
R
quoad:
Definition pending clarification.
Rateen:
A thick twilled wollen cloth, or the French version: "Ratine" étoffe de laine croisée dont le poil est tiré au dehors et frisé.
res:
The subject matter of a trust or will. In the civil law, a thing: an object.
As a term of the law, this word has a very wide and extensive signification,
including not only things which are objects of property, but also such as
are not capable of individual ownership. And in old English law it is said
to have a general import, comprehending both corporeal and incorporeal things
of whatever kind, nature or species. By res according to the modern
civilians, is meant everything that may form an object of rights, in opposition
to personna which is regarded as a subject of right. Res
therefore, in its general meaning, comprises actions of all kinds, while in
its restricted sense it comprehends every object of right, except actions.
This has reference to the fundamental division of the Institutes, that all
laws relates either to persons, to things, or to actions.
R
Rescission:
Rescission of Contract: to abrogate, annul, avoid or cancel a contract;
particularly, nullifying a contract by the act of a party. The right to rescission
is the right to cancel (rescind) a contract upon the occurrence of certain
kinds of default by the other contracting party. To declare a contract void
in its inception and to put an end to it as though it never were. A "rescission"
amounts to the unmaking of a contract, or an undoing of it from the beginning,
and not merely a termination, and it may be effected by mutual agreement of
parties, or by one of the parties declaring rescission of contract without
concent of other if a legally sufficient ground therefore exists, or by applying
to courts for a decree of rescission. It necessarily involves a repudiation of
the contract and a refusal of the moving party to be further bound by it.
Nevertheless, not every default in a contract will give rise to a right of rescission.
An action of an equitable nature in which a party seeks to be relieved of his
obligations under a contract on the grounds of mutual mistake, fraud, impossibility,
etc.R
semper infinita, insatiabilis:
vile passion of avarice.R
Snow: A two-masted sailing vessel rigged as a brig, but with an additional small mast immediately abaft the mainmast to which is attached a fore-and-aft sail.R
Schiedam: "Eau-de-vie" or grain brandy produced in Schiedam, Holland.
Scire leges non hor est verba earum tenere, sed vim et potestatem:
To know laws is not only to take them at their word, but (to judge) the strength
and situation (of the people involved)".R
stuarca Maris:
Definition pending clarification.
Sum pro opere et labore:
Sum for wages and labour.
Tacit:
Existing, inferred, or understood without being openly expressed or stated;
implied by silence or silent acquiescence, as a tacit argeement or a tacit
understanding. Done or made in silence, implied or indicated, but not actually
expressed. Manifested by the refraining from contraducting or objection; inferred
from the situation and circumstances, in the absence of express matter.
R
Tenet:
A belief or doctorine generally held to be true; esp: one held in common by
members of an organization, group or profession.R
Tortious:
Wrongful; of the nature of a tort. The word "tortious"
is used throughout the Restatement, Second, Torts, to denote the fact that
conduct whether of act or omission is of such a character as to subject the
actor to liability, under the principles of the law of torts.R
Ullage:
The amount that a container (as a cask) lacks of being full. (Middle French eullage;"act of filling a cask", from eullier "to fill a cask".R
Tierce:
Old measure of capacity, one-third of pipe, cask or vessel holding this quantity.R
Vana euim est potentia qu‘ non in actum vonit:
Definition pending clarification.R
G.R. Bossé©1999-03. |
Posted: Nov. 1st, 1998. |
Updated: July 15, 2003. |
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