A phrase used to express the condition of a person charged with crime, who has once already, by legal proceedings, been put in danger of conviction and punishment for the same offense. See Com. v. Fitzpatrick, 121 Pa. 109, 15 Atl. 466, 1 L. R. A. 451, 6 Am. St. Rep. 757. Once quit and cleared, ever quit and cleared. (Scotch, anls quit and clenged, ay quit and clenged.) Skene, de Verb. Sign, voc. “Iter.,” ad fin.