comm. law. The name of a peculiar weight. This kind of weight is so named in distinction from the Troy weight. One pound avoir du pois contains 7000 grains Troy; that is, fourteen ounces, eleven pennyweights and sixteen grains Troy a pound avoir du pois contains sixteen ounces; and an ounce sixteen drachms. Thirty-two cubic feet of pure spring-water, at the temperature of … [Read more...]
AVOIRDUPOIS
The name of a system of weights (sixteen ounces to the pound) used in weighing articles other than medicines, metals, and precious stones. … [Read more...]
AUTREFOIS CONVICT
crim. law, pleading. A plea made by a defendant, indicted for a crime or misdemeanor, that he has formerly been tried and convicted of the same. 2. As a man once tried and acquitted of an offence is not again to be placed in jeopardy for the same cause, so, a fortiori, if he has suffered the penalty due to his offence, his conviction ought to be a bar to a second indictment for … [Read more...]
AUXILIARY
Aiding; attendant on J ancillary, (q. v.) As an auxiliary bill in equity, an auxiliary receiver. … [Read more...]
AUXILIUM
In feudal and old English law Aid; compulsory aid, hence a tax or tribute; a kind of tribute paid by the vassal to his lord, being one of the incidents of the tenure by knight's service. Spelman. Auxilium ad nlium militem faciendum et filiam maritandam. An ancient writ which was addressed to the sheriff to levy com pulsorily an aid towards the knighting of a son. and the … [Read more...]