statute merchant. Hist. 1. (cap.) One of two 13th-century statutes establishing procedures to better secure and recover debts by, among other things, providing for a commercial bond that, if not timely paid, resulted in swift execution on the lands, goods, and body of the debtor. 13 Edw., ch. 6 (1283); 15 Edw., ch. 6 (1285). […]
rente (rawnt), n. [French “income, rent”] French law. 1. Annual income or rent. rente foncière (fawn-syair) [French “ground rent”] A rent that is payable for the use of land and is perpetual. rente viagère (vee-ah-zhair). [French “life rent”] A rent charge or annuity that is payable for life; a life interest or annuity. 2. (usu.
Bounds within which a jail or prison lies and throughout which certain prisoners are allowed to move freely, usu. after giving bond for the liberties. • The bounds are considered an extension of the prison walls. Historically, jail liberties were given in England to those imprisoned for debt. The prisoners were allowed to move freely
neife (neef), n. [Law French] Hist. A person born into bondage or serfdom; specif., a female serf. — Also spelled naif; neif; niefe. “For the children of villeins were also in the same state of bondage with their parents; whence they were called in Latin, nativi, which gave rise to the female appellation of a
lot. 1. A tract of land, esp. one having specific boundaries or being used for a given purpose. minimum lot. A lot that has the least amount of square footage allowed by a local zoning law. [Cases: Zoning and Planning 63, 254. C.J.S. Zoning and Land Planning §§ 48–49, 116.] nonconforming lot. A previously lawful