Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.

Category: F

FEODATORY

In feudal law. The grantee of a feod, feud, or fee; the vassal or tenantwho held his estate by feudal service. Termes de la Ley. Blackstone uses “feudatory.” 2Bl. Comm. 46.

FERLa

In Roman law. Holidays; generally speaking, days or seasons during whichfree-born Romans suspended their political transactions and their lawsuits, and duringwhich slaves enjoyed a cessation from labor, all ferice were thus dies

FETTERS

Chains or shackles for the feet; Irons used to secure the legs of convicts,unruly prisoners, etc. Similar cnains securing the wrists are called “handcuffs.”

FIANZA

Sp. In Spanish law, trust, confidence, and eorrelatively a legal duty or obligationarising therefrom. The term is sufficiently broad in meaning to include both ageneral obligation and a restricted liability under a

FIDUCIAL

An adjective having the same meaning as “fiduciary;” as, in the phrase”public or fiducial office.” Ky. St.

FILARE

In old English practice. To file. Townsh. PI. 07.

FINDER

One who discovers and takes possession of another’s personal property,which was then lost. Kincaid v. Eaton, 98 Mass. 139. 93 Am. Dec. 142.A searcher employed to discover goods imported or exported without

FIRDSOCNE

Sax. In old English law. Exemption from military service. Spelman.

FIRST-CLASS

Of the most superior or excellent gnule or kind; belonging to the heador chief or numerically precedent of several classes into which the general subject is divided.

FLACO

A place covered with standing water.

FLICHWITE

In Saxon law. A fine on account of brawls and quarrels. Spelman.

FLY FOR IT

On a criminal trial in former times, it was usual after a verdict of notguilty to inquire also, “Did he fly for it?” This practice was abolished by tlie 7 & 8

FOG

In maritime law. Any atmospheric condition (including not only fog properly socalled, but also mist or falling snow) which thickens the air, obstructs the view, and soIncreases the perils of navigation. Flint

FONSADERA

In Spanish law. Any tribute or loan granted to the king for the purposeof enabling him to defray the expenses of a war.

FORCED HEIRS

In Louisiana. Those persons whom the testator or donor cannotdeprive of the portion of his estate reserved for them by law, except in cases where hehas a just cause to disinherit them.

FOREIN

An old form of foreign, (q. v.) Blount

FORFEITABLE

Liable to be forfeited; subject to forfeiture for non-user, neglect, crime, etc.

FORISFAMILIATES

In old English law. Put out of a family; portioned off; emancipated; forisfamiliated. Bract, fol. 64.

FORTAEICE

A fortress or place of strength, which anciently did not pass without a special grant. 11 Hen. VII. c. 18.

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