CHA

3 definitions found across Law Mind sources

CHAAuthored
The Law Mind • 922 words
Definition
In historical English legal usage, "cha" appears as a fragment or abbreviated form within older legal texts, most commonly encountered in manuscript sources and early printed law books. Based on available source material, the term as it appears in Burrill does not resolve to a standalone legal term with independent substantive meaning; rather, it represents a partial entry or scribal abbreviation appearing in the context of discussions of exceptions, objections, and pleading practice. To the extent the fragment connects to a recoverable legal concept, it relates to the procedural notion of a "challenge" or an exception taken against persons or things in old practice — a usage Burrill signals when noting that "[t]he word had this large sense in old practice, a writ or count being a..." The entry trails off, suggesting either a printing defect, a truncated cross-reference, or a transitional note between headwords in the original dictionary.
Common Language
Modern common usage (Wiktionary): "Cha" is an informal or dialectal word for tea, especially in British English. Also used as a colloquial variant of "char" (tea). Historical common usage (Webster's 1913): "Tea; — the Chinese (Mandarin) name, used generally in early works of travel, and now for a kind of rolled tea used in Central Asia." The gap between common and legal meaning here is structural rather than semantic: the common word "cha" (tea) has no connection whatsoever to the legal fragment as it appears in Burrill. A researcher encountering "cha" in an early legal text is almost certainly not reading about tea. The appearance of the term in Burrill reflects either an abbreviated headword (possibly for "challenge," "charge," or a Latin-derived procedural term) or a printing artifact — not any borrowing from the common noun.
Common Confusion
Researchers should not assume that "cha" in historical legal manuscripts or printed law dictionaries is a self-contained legal term with settled meaning. It is most likely: 1. An abbreviation for "challenge" (the procedural objection against persons, as in jury challenges, or against things, as in exceptions to writs), consistent with Burrill's surrounding text about exceptions taken "against persons or things." 2. A scribal or typographical fragment, particularly common in early English legal printing where entries were set in double-column format and headwords sometimes ran together or were truncated. 3. A cross-reference marker to a fuller entry elsewhere in the same volume. Confusing this fragment with the substantive law of challenges or exceptions — or worse, treating it as an independent legal doctrine — would be an error.
Why It Matters in Research
The practical significance of this entry is as a caution rather than a definition. Researchers working in historical legal sources — particularly pre-1800 English practice books, Year Books, and early American digests derived from them — will encounter abbreviated and truncated headwords with some regularity. Burrill's Law Dictionary, while invaluable, was compiled from heterogeneous sources including manuscript glossaries, Cowell's Interpreter, Spelman's Glossary, and Bracton, and the transitions between entries are not always clean. If you encounter "cha" in a primary source and need to identify its meaning, the following navigational steps apply: - Check whether the surrounding text concerns jury selection or pleading objections. If so, the reference is almost certainly to "challenge" in the procedural sense. - Check whether the text is a conveyancing or land-law source. In that context, the nearby Burrill entries reference "drove-way or drift-way" (Lat. actus) and the writ of cessavit, suggesting a cluster of entries on land tenure and associated obligations. - Do not rely on "cha" as a standalone searchable term in corpus research. Searches should be run on the full candidate terms (challenge, charge, champerty, charter, chattel) rather than on the fragment. The Burrill entries immediately surrounding this fragment address: (1) a duty of tenure sufficient to expose a landholder to a writ of cessavit; (2) drove-way or drift-way as a species of way; and (3) an exception or objection against persons or things in old practice. These three distinct concepts appearing in sequence confirm that "cha" is a transitional artifact, not a unified entry.
Historical Dictionary Support
Burrill's Law Dictionary is the sole source here, and its entry is fragmentary. Burrill cites Cowell, Spelman, and Bracton in the immediately surrounding text, which places the discussion in the mainstream of early modern English legal lexicography. Cowell's Interpreter (1607) and Spelman's Glossary are both concerned with Anglo-Norman and Latin legal terminology, and both frequently abbreviate headwords in ways that later compilers reproduced without always restoring the full form. No other historical dictionary in the standard Law Mind shelf — not Black's, not Bouvier, not Tomlin — carries a headword "cha" as a legal term. This absence is itself informative: the fragment does not represent a recognized term of art that survived into 19th-century American legal lexicography.
Encyclopedia Cross-Reference
See Law Mind Encyclopedia: Pleading and Practice (Historical); Challenge (Jury and Peremptory); Cessavit (Writ)
Related Terms
Challenge — the procedural objection to jurors or to the form of a writthe most probable referent of this fragment Cessavit — the writ referenced in the immediately surrounding Burrill text Actus — the Latin term Burrill equates with drove-way or drift-way in the adjacent entry Exception — the broader category of procedural objection described in the Burrill fragment Charge — a possible alternative full form of the abbreviated headword Chattel — nearby headword in alphabetical sequence; not substantively related but a common source of archival confusion in double-column early print formats
CHAmain
Burrill's Law Dictionary • 1867
(269) a duty belonging to him, as to incur the danger of the law, and to become liable to have a writ of cessavit brought against him. Old Nat. Brev. 136. Cowell. (270) drove-way or drift-way, (Lat. actus, q. v.) practice. An exception or objection taken Spelman. Bract. fol. 227 b, 232. either against persons or things. Cowell. The word had this large sense in old practice, a writ or count being as proper a subject of challenge as a juror. See Chalenger. In modern practice, however, its signification has been materially narrowed, and it is now almost exclusively used to denote A station of game, or hunting ground, (Lat. fugacia ;) an extent of ground less than a forest, and larger than a park, where wild animals are kept for the diversion of the chase, (saltus et ipsa statio qua, venationis gratia, aluntur feræ.) Spelman. See Chase. (271) The (272) array, and challenges to the polls. Co. Litt. In modern times, the court officer styled 156 a, 156 b. chamberlain has the charge of the private apartments of the sovereign or noble to whom he is attached. Brande. (273) promoter of other persons' suits.* 4 Bl. Com. 135. See Champerty. between them, if they prevail at law; whereupon the champertor is to carry on the party's suit at his own expense. 4 Bl. Com. 135. In the modern sense of the word, champerty signifies the purchasing of a suit or right of suing. Id. ibid. Or rather, the purchase of an interest in a thing in dispute, with the object of maintaining and taking part in the litigation. Tindall, C. J. 7 Bing. 369. Holthouse. The purchase of land, pending a suit concerning it, is cham- **Champertors are defined by the statute De Conspiratoribus, (of conspirators,) 33 Edw. III. to be "those who move or cause to be moved pleas and suits, either by their own procurement, or by that of others, and sue them at their own costs, to have part of the land in dispute, or part of the gains; (ad campi partem, vel pro parte lucri habend)." This definition is, in the English edition of the statutes, at the end of the statute of conspirators; but, accord-perty. 4 Kent's Com. 449. See 2 Story's ing to Mr. Reeves, no original text appears to warrant it; and he considers it probable that it was added by some reader, to explain what followed; for the next statute is entitled the "statute of champerty." 2 Reeves' Hist. Eng. Law, 243. The Latin text is given by Cowell and Spelman, but neither of them takes any notice of the deficiency. In Fleta, a statute is quoted, providing that no chancellor, treasurer, justice, or other of the king's council, or of the chancery, of the household, exchequer, eyre, or any bench, nor any minister, clerk of the crown or other layman, shall receive presentations of churches, or the advowson of any church lands, tenements or fees, by exemption or gift either to farm, or to champert, (seu ad campi partem,) viz. to become a sharer in it, nor shall in any way interfere therewith, while a controversy concerning it is pending before the king, or any of his ministers, nor shall any stipend be taken thereof. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 36, § 4. Eq. Jur. §§ 1048-1054, and notes. In the United States, the English doctrine of champerty and maintenance has been much modified. In New-York, the taking of a conveyance from a party in possession of land, the subject of controversy by suit in court, is no longer forbidden. See 2 Rev. Stat. [691,] 576, §§ 5, 6. 21 Wendell's R. 98. In Michigan, the application of the doctrine to sales of land by a party out of possession, has been annulled. 20 Howard's R. 467. In Vermont, the bonâ fide purchase of a right of action is not champerty. 28 Vermont R. 490, 496. And see the observations of Grier, J. 20 Howard's R. 483. As to agreements between attorney and client, for a part of the matter in litigation as a compensation for services, see 2 Denio's R. 607. 1 Hoffman's Ch. R. 421. 4 Kent's Com. 449, note. The distinction between maintenance and champerty seems to be this: where there is no agreement to divide the thing in suit, the party intermeddling is guilty of mainCHAMPERTY, Champarty. [L. Fr. tenance only, but where he stipulates to champert; L. Lat. campers, cambipartia, receive part of the thing in suit, he is guilty qq. v.] In criminal law. The maintenance of champerty. 4 Chitty's Bl. Com. 135, of any man in his suit, upon condition to note. Hence the rule of Lord Coke, that have part of (partire) the thing in dispute, every champerty is maintenance, but every when it is recovered, (or pro parte rei quæ maintenance is not champerty. 2 Inst. 208. est in placito habenda,) whether it be land See Maintenance. See the English author- (cumpus,) or any thing out of land, or ities on this subject, cited in 4 Steph. Com. goods, or a debt, or any other thing in plea 264, note (1). For the American law of or suit. Cowell. Blount. Reg. Orig. 183. champerty, see 4 Kent's Com. 449, and F. N. B. 172. Stat. Westm. 1, c. 25. Co. note. United States Digest, Champerty Litt. 368 b. 2 Inst. 208.-The unlawful and Maintenance. 2 N. Y. Rev. St. [288, maintenance of a suit, in consideration of §§ 71-74,] 216, §§ 72-75. Id. [691,] some bargain to have part of the thing in 576, §§ 5-7. Lewis' U. S. Crim. Law, dispute, or some profit out of it. Hawk. 493-498. P. C. b. 1, c. 84. Shaw, C. J. 1 Pick. R. 416. 6 Porter's (Ala.) R. 488. U. S. Dig. Champerty and Maintenance, I.-A species of maintenance, being a bargain with a plaintiff or defendant campum partire, to divide the land, or other matter sued for, VOL. I. (274) One who fought in his own cause. ell. Cowfrom the L. Fr. chancelier, or chauncellier. The Saxon word was boceras; but the Lat. cancellarius was always used in charters and records, as well as by the old chroniclers. Spelman, voc. Cancellarius. For the original derivation of the term, see Cancellarius. Blount. See Campio. (275) ble homicide. 4 Bl. Com. 184. 3 Inst. the Vice-Chancellor of England, created by 55, 57. Foster's Crown Law, 275, 276. stat. 53 Geo. III. c. 24; and two additional -Manslaughter without former malice. vice-chancellors have been since appointed, Finch's Law, b. 3, ch. 19.-Manslaughter with powers precisely similar to those of on a sudden quarrel. 4 Steph. Com. 103, the Vice-Chancellor of England. note (t). ton's Lex. Chance medley is distinguished by Blackstone from homicide per infortunium, or by misadventure, (4 Bl. Com. 182); though the terms seem to be confounded in the old books, (Staundf. Pl. Cor. lib. 1, c. 8. Termes de la Ley. West's Symboleog. par. 2, tit. Indictments, sec. 5, cited in Blount;) and by so late a writer as Whishaw. It is also sometimes confounded with chaudmedley, (q. v.) Sir Michael Foster, how ever, considers the difference between chance medley and chaud medley, in point of sense, as very small. Fost. Cr. Law, 276, note. CHANCERY, or COURT OF CHAN- (276) prosperity of some particular family while living, and the repose of the souls of those members of it who were deceased; but especially of the founder and other persons specifically named by him in the instrument of foundation. P. Cyclopædia. They were usually little chapels, or particular altars in some cathedral or parochial church. Blount. See P. Cyclopædia. (277) a person in execution, is to take or arrest him by virtue of a writ of execution. 1 Tidd's Pr. 365, 367. 4 Term R. 367. (278) or order of the court directs an account to be taken and examined before a master, in such case the plaintiff delivers in an account before the master, in the form of a charge, (q. v.) against the defendant; which being examined and gone through, the defendant or adverse party must bring in his discharge, (q. v.) against such charge; which being likewise examined and gone through, the master will exercise his judgment upon the evidence, and allow or disallow the charge, or any part of it, as he thinks proper, and so, e contra, as to the discharge, after which the report is made. Cunningham. Whishaw. 2 Daniell's Chanc. Pr. 1420-1422. Hoffman's Mast. in Chanc. 36-39. ( 279 ) is the charter of the said forest. Kennett's have Par. Ant. 73. Cowell. A royal grant of privileges or liberties, (charta regia,) either to an individual, as a charter of pardon, (carta perdonationis,) to a public body, (see Charter,) or to a whole nation, as Magna Charta, the Great Charter; Charta de Foresta, the Charter of the Forest. See Magna Charta. **The term charta was introduced into England by the Normans, in lieu of chirographum, which was the Latin word used among the Saxons, answering to the vernacular boc. Normanni chirographa chartas vocabant. Ingulph. apud Spelman. 1 Reeves Hist. Eng. Law, 88. Lord Coke distinguishes charta, (a charter,) from factum, (a deed); the former touching inheritance, not so the latter, unless it have some other additions. Co. Litt. 9 b. Bracton, however, applies both words to royal grants. De chartis vero regiis et factis regum, &c. Bract. fol. 34. The ch in this word seems to have always been pronounced hard, (after the Gr. xáprns,) which led to the practice of writing the word carta, in which form it occurs in the Register, and in some of the old writers. Reg. Orig. 157-160. Co. Litt. 36 a. Magna Charta was originally entitled "Magna Carta." (280) Exch. pref. ep. p. 8. Formul. Angl. Diss. p. 2. Mad. Hist. against the king's crown and dignity. Bro. Abr. Charter of Pardon. Dyer, 34. Cowell. 4 Bl. Com. 400, 402. See the old form, Reg. Orig. 288, 308; and see 2 Reeves' Hist. Eng. Law, 437. An instrument in writing, containing a grant from the crown to any person or persons, or to any body politic, of any rights, liberties, franchises or privileges.* Otherwise called a royal charter (charta regia). Bract. fol. 33 b. Some of the old acts of parliament were in the form of charters. 8 Co. The Prince's case. These royal charters are preserved in the Charter Rolls, the series of which commences in the year 1199, and terminates in 1516, when that species of royal diploma ceased; and all the written acts of the sovereign in the nature of grants were thenceforward made in the form of letters patent, and recorded upon the Patent Rolls. Hubback's Evid. of Succession, 616. See Charter Rolls. (281) (282) et immobiles of the civil law. Reg. Orig. sentations to a church, estates by statute 93 b, nota. LL. Will. Nothi, apud Dufresne, merchant, statute staple, elegit, &c. 2 Bl. cited 2 Bl. Com. 386, note (e). Cowell, Com. 386. Co. Litt. 118 b. 1 Steph. voc. Catalls. Bract. fol. 102. The present Com. 262, 263. 2 Kent's Com. 342. 1 division of chattels into real and personal Crabb's Real Prop. 5, et seq. They are was introduced in the reign of Edward III. so called, as being interests issuing out 3 Reeves' Hist. Eng. Law, 15. See Chatof, or annexed to real estates, of which tels Real, Chattels Personal. they have one quality, viz. immobility, which denominates them real, but want the other, viz. a sufficient legal indeterminate duration; and this want it is that constitutes them chattels. 2 Bl. Com. 386. They are otherwise denominated estates less than freehold. 1 Steph. Com. 262. The term chattels is a more comprehensive one than goods, as it includes animate as well as inanimate property. 2 Chitt. Bl. Com. 383, note. In a devise, however, they seem to be of the same import. Shep. Touch. 447. 2 Fonbl. Equity, 335. In practice, they are almost always united in the expression goods and chattels, which is of very ancient date. 2 Steph. Com. 65. See Bona et catalla, Goods and Chattels, Effects, Personal estate, Moveables. tween things real, and things personal, they appertain to the division of things real. 2 Steph. Com. 65. Mr. Stephen observes of chattels real, that they are not properly the subjects of property, but rather modifications of property, or species of estates in a certain kind of subjects, viz. in things real. When **As to the etymology of this word, considered, indeed, in reference to the disthe singular chattel seems to be immeditinction between real and personal estate, ately formed from the Fr. chatelle, or chatel, they are held to fall under the latter de- (q. v.); the plural chattels, (or, as it was fornomination, their incidents being in general merly written, catals,) is supposed to be the same with those of property in movederived from the L. Lat. catalla, the chables; but as regards the distinction bebeing pronounced hard, as in the word charta, which is evident from the form of the old Norman plural, cateux, (q. v.) Catals is the form used in the Termes de la Ley, and Cowell. As to any further derivation, catalla or catalia is clearly shown by Spelman to be merely a contracted form of writing capitalia, which, with the singular capitale, or captale, occurs frequently in the Saxon and early English laws. See Capitale. The Fr. singular chatell may have been formed from the latter word. The primary meaning of capitalia was animals, beasts of husbandry, (otherwise called averia, q. v.) or cattle; in which last word it is still identically retained. This will appear from the extracts given under capitale, (q. v.) Capitalia is derived by Spelman from capita, heads; a term still popularly applied to beasts, as "so many heads of cattle." When the word took the form catalla, it continued to retain this primary meaning, but gradually acquired the secondary sense of moveables of any kind, inanimate as well as animate, and finally became used to signify interests in lands. 1 Steph. Com. 262. Dufresne II. 409. Bract. fol. 159 b. 2 Reeves' Hist. Eng. Law, 52. CHATTELS PERSONAL, otherwise called THINGS PERSONAL, comprise all sorts of things moveable, as goods, plate, money, jewels, implements of war, garments, animals and vegetable productions; as the fruit or other parts of a plant, when severed from the body of it, or the whole plant itself, when severed from the ground. 2 Steph. Com. 66, 67. 2 Bl. Com. 387. Besides things moveable, they include also certain incorporeal rights or interests, growing out of, or incident to them, such as patent rights and copyrights, to which Mr. Stephen has given the name of incorporeal chattels. 2 Steph. Com. 72. There are, however, many chattels, which, though they be even of a moveable nature, yet being necessarily attached to the freehold, and contributing to its value and enjoyment, go along with it, in the same path of descent or alienation. This is the case with the deeds and other papers which constitute the muniments of title to the inheritance, and so with heir looms. 2 Kent's Com. 343. A box of charters or deeds was always classed with chattels real. Cromp. Just. 33 b. Termes de la Ley. Cowell.
CHAn.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
Tea; -- the Chinese (Mandarin) name, used generally in early works of travel, and now for a kind of rolled tea used in Central Asia.

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