Fr. In French law. Jettison. Ord. Mar. liv. 3, tit 8; Emerig. Traitt des Assur. c. 12, … [Read more...]

Freemen who delivered themselves and property to the protection of a more powerful person, in order to avoid military service and other burdens. Spelman. Also a species of serfs among the Germans. Du Cange. The same as cowmen dati … [Read more...]

A term descriptive of goods which by the act of the owner have been voluntarily cast overboard from a vessel in a storm or other emergency to lighten the ship. 1 C. B. 113. Jetsam is where goods are cast into the sea and there sink and remain uuder water. 1 Bl. Comm. 292. Jetsam differs from "flotsam." in this: that in the latter the goods float while in the former they sink … [Read more...]

A fictitious name to use for a female defendant whose true identity is unknown at the beginning of a lawsuit. Also may be used to name an unidentified female who may be incapacitated or deceased. … [Read more...]

The act of throwing overboard from a vessel part of the cargo in case of extreme danger to lighten the ship. The same name is also given to the thing or things so cast out. Gray v. Wain 2 Serg. & It. (Pa.) 254 7 Am. Dec. 042; Butler v. Wildman 3 Barn. & Aid. 320; Baruard v. Adams 10 How. 303 13 L. Ed. 417. A carrier by water may when in case of extreme peril it is … [Read more...]