In English criminal law. The offense of listening under walls orwindows, or the eaves of a house, to hearken after discourse, and thereupon to frameslanderous and mischievous tales. 4 Bl. Comm. 168. It is a misdemeanor at commonlaw, indictable at sessions, and punishable by fine and finding sureties for good behavior.Id.; Steph. Crim. Law, 109. See State v. Pennington, 3 Head (Tenn.) 300, 75Am. Dec. 771; Com. v. Lovett 4 Clark (Pa.) 5; Selden v. State, 74 Wis. 271, 42 N. W.218, 17 Am. St. Rep. 144.