1. A practice that by its common adoption and long, unvarying habit has come to have the force of law. See USAGE. [Cases: Customs and Usages
1. C.J.S. Customs and Usages § 1.] — customary, adj.
conventional custom. A custom that operates only indirectly through the medium of agreements, so that it is accepted and adopted in individual instances as conventional law between the parties to those agreements.
— Also termed usage. See USAGE.
general custom.
1. A custom that prevails throughout a country and constitutes one of the sources of the law of the land. [Cases: Customs and Usages 1–22. C.J.S. Customs and Usages §§ 1–48.]
2. A custom that businesses recognize and follow. See trade usage under USAGE.
legal custom. A custom that operates as a binding rule of law, independently of any agreement on the part of those subject to it. — Often shortened to custom.
local custom. A custom that prevails in some defined locality only, such as a city or county, and constitutes a source of law for that place only.
— Also termed particular custom; special custom. [Cases: Customs and Usages 1–22. C.J.S. Customs and Usages §§ 1–48.]
2. (pl.) Duties imposed on imports or exports.
3. (pl.) The agency or procedure for collecting such duties.
