A holy or ecclesiastical court.A court held in London before the lord mayor and sheriffs, for regulating the bakers.It was anciently held on Sunday next before St. Thomas’ day, and therefore called

Sax. In old English law. Tenants who held land by the service ofrepairing or defending a church or monument, whereby they were exempted fromfeudal and military services.

In old English law. A hook ; an engine with which a house on fire is pulleddown. Yel. 00. A piece of land.

In forest law. The hox- ing or hock-sinewing of dogs; an old mode oflaming or disabling dogs. Termes de la Ley.

In Scotch law. The violent entering into a man’s house withoutlicense or against the peace, and the seeking and assaulting him there. Skene de Verb. Sign.; 2 Forb. Inst 130.The crime of

(Sax. From ham, a house.) In Saxon law. An assault made in a house; abreach of the peace in a private house.

A small village; a part or member of a vill. It is the diminutive of “ham,” avillage. Cowell. See Rex. v. Morris, 4 Term, 552.

A close Joining to a house; a croft; a little meadow. Cowell.

Metaphorically, a forced sale or sale at public auction. “To bring to thehammer,” to put up for sale at auction. “Sold under the hammer,” sold by an officer ofthe law or by

In Saxon law. The right of security and privacy in a man’s house. DuCange. The breach of this privilege by a forcible entry of a house is breach of thepeace. Du Cange.

A hamper or basket in which were kept the writs of the court of chanceryrelating to the business of a subject, and their returns. 3 Bl. Comm. 40. According toothers, the fees

An appellate court is said to “hand down” its decision in a case, whenthe opinion is prepared and filed for transmission to the court below.

In old English law. Betrothment

Money paid in hand to bind a bargain; earnest money.

A written or printed notice displayed to inform those concerned ofsomething to be done. People v. McLaughlin, 33 Misc. Rep. 091, 6S N. Y. Supp. 1108.

In Saxon law. A hand pledge; a name given to the nine pledges in adecennary or friborg; the tenth or chief, being called “hcadboroic” (q. v.) So called asbeing an inferior pledge

Anciently, among all the northern nations, shaking of hands was heldnecessary to bind a bargain,

Handsale, or earnest money.

In old practice. To remain undetermined. “It has hung long enough ; It istime it were made au end of.” Holt, C. J., 1 Show. 77.Thus, the present participle means pendins; during

In criminal law. Suspension by the neck ; the mode of capital punishmentused in England from time immemorial, and generally adopted in the United States. 4 Bl. Comm. 403.