In the civil law. A proceeding, at the instance of a surety, by which the creditor is obliged to exhaust the property of the principal debtor, towards the satisfaction of the debt, before having recourse to the surety; and this right of the surety is termed the “benefit of discussion.” Civ. Code La. art 3045, et seq.
In Scotch law. The ranking of the proper order in which heirs are liable to satisfy the debts of the deceased. Bell.