BASE

adj. Low; Inferior; servile; of subordinate degree; Impure, adulterated, or alloyed. Base animal. See ANIMAL. Base bullion. Base silver bullion is silver in bars mixed to a greater or less extent with alloys or base materials. Base coin. Debased, adulterated, or alloyed coin. Gabe v. State, 6 Ark. 540. Base court. In English law. Any inferior court that is not of record, as a court baron, etc. Kitch. 95. 96; Cowell. Base estate. The estate which “base tenants” (a. v.) have in their land. Cowell. Base fee. In English law. An estate or fee which has a qualification subjoined thereto, and which must be determined whenever the qualification annexed to it is at an end. 2 Bl. Comm. 100. Wiggins Ferry Co. v. Railroad Co., 94 111. 93; Camp Meeting Ass’n v. East Lyme, 54 Conn. 152. 5 Atl. 849. Base-infeftment. In Scotch law. A disposition of lands by a vassal, to be held of himself. Base right. In Scotch law. A subordinate right; the right of a subvassal in the lands held by him. Bell. Base services. In feudal law. Such services as were unworthy to be performed by the nobler men, and were performed by the peasants and those of servile rank. 2 Bl. Comm. 61. Base tenants. Tenants who performed to their lords services in villenage; tenants who held at the will of the lord, as distinguished from frank tenants, or freeholders. Cowell. Base tenure. A tenure bv villenage, or other customary service, as distinguished from tenure by military service; or from tenure by free service. Cowell.