B

A large fish, called by Black stone a "whale." Of this the king had the head and the queen the tail as a perquisite whenever one was taken on the coast of England. 1 Bl. Comm. 222. … [Read more...] about BALAENA

In a policy of marine insurance, the phrase "forwards and backwards at sea" means from port to port in the course of the voyage, and not merely from one terminus to the other and back. 1 Taunt. 475. … [Read more...] about BACKWARDS

In English law. A bag or purse. Thus there is the petty bag office in the common law jurisdiction of the court of chancery, because all original writs relating to the business of the crown were formerly kept in a little sack or bag, in parvA baffd. 1 Madd Ch. 4. … [Read more...] about BAGA

In old law. A bailiffs jurisdiction, a bailiwick; the same as bailium. Spelman. See Bailiwick. In old English law. A liberty, or exclusive jurisdiction, which was exempted from the sheriff of the county, and over which the lord of the liberty appointed a bailiff with such powers within his precinct as an under sheriff exercised under the sheriff of the county. Whishaw. … [Read more...] about BAILIVIA

That water in a stream which, in consequence of some obstruction below, is detained or checked in its course, or reflows. 2. Every riparian owner is entitled to the benefit of the water in its natural state. Whenever, therefore, the owner of land dams or impedes the water in such a manner as to back it on his neighbor above, he is liable to an action; for no one has a right to … [Read more...] about BACK-WATER