Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

FIRE AND SWORD, LETTERS OF 496

F1RMITAS

other parts of the building not so character ized, and warrants the conclusion that it is of a different material. 102 X. Y. 459, 7 N. E. Rep. 321. FIRKIN. A measure containing nine gallons; also a weight of fifty-six pound* avoirdupois, used in weighing butter and cheese. FIRLOT. A Scotch measure of capacity, containing two gallons and a pint. Spel man. FIRM. A partnership; the group of per sons constituting a partnership. The name or title under which the mem bers of a partnership transact business. FIRMA. In old English law. The con tract of lease or letting; also the rent (or farm) reserved upon alease of lands, which was frequently payable in provisions, but some times in money, in which latter case it was called "albafirma" white rent. A messuage, with the house and garden belonging thereto. Also provision for the table; a banquet; a tribute towards the entertainment of the king for one night. FIRMA FEODI. In oldEnglish law. A farm or lease of a fee; a fee-farm. FIRMAN. An Asiatic word denoting a decree or grant of privileges, ov passport to a traveler. FIRMARATIO. The right of a tenant to his lands and tenements. Cowell. FIRMARIUM. In old records. A place in monasteries, and elsewhere, where the poor were received and supplied with food. Spelman. Hence the word "infirmary." FIRMARIUS. L. Lat. A fermor. A lessee of a term. Firmarii comprehend all such as hold by lease for life or lives or for year, by deed or without deed. 2 Inst. 144, 145; 1 Vashb. Real Prop. 107. FIRMATIO. The doe season. Also a supplying with food. Cowell. FIRME. In old records. A farm. Firmior et potentior est operatio le gis quam dispositio hominis. The opera tion of the law is firmer and more powerful [or efficacious] than the disposition of man. Co. Litt. 102a. FIRMITAS. In old English law. An assurance of some privilege, by deed or char ter.

FIRE AND SWORD, LETTERS OF. In old Scotch law. Letters issued from the privy council in Scotland, addressed to the sheriff of the county, authorizing him to call for the assistance of the county to dispossess a tenant retaining possession, contrary to the order of a judge or the sentence of a court. Wharton. FIRE-ARMS. This word comprises all sorts of guns, fowling-pieces, blunderbusses, pistols, etc. FIREBARE. A beacon or high tower by the seaside, wherein are continual lights, either to direct sailors in the night, or to give warning of the approach of an enemy. Oowell. FIRE-BOTE. An allowance of wood or estovers to maintain competent firing for the tenant. A sufficient allowance of wood to burn in a house. 1 Washb. Real Prop. 99. FIRE INSURANCE. A contract of insurance by which the underwriter, in con sideration of the premium, undertakes to in demnify the insured against all losses in his houses, buildings, furniture, ships in port, or merchandise, by means of accidental fire happening within a prescribed period. 3 Kent, Comm. 370. FIRE ORDEAL. In Saxon and old En glish law. The ordeal by fire or red-hot iron, which was performed either by taking up in the hand a piece of red-hot iron, of one, two, or three pounds weight, or by walking bare foot and blindfolded over nine red-hot plow shares, laid lengthwise at unequal distances. 4 Bl. Comm. 343; Cowell. FIRE POLICY. A contract of insurance, by which, in consideration of a single or pe riodical payment of premium, (as the case may be,) the company engages to pay to the assured such loss as may occur by fire to bis property therein described, within the period or periods therein specified, to an amount not •exceeding a particular sum fixed for that pur pose by the policy. 2 Steph. Comm. 180. FIRE-PROOF. To say of any article that it is "fire-proof" conveys no other idea than that the material out of which it is formed is incombustible. To say of a build ing that it is fire-proof excludes the idea that it is «f wood, and necessarily implies that it is of some substance fitted for the erection of fire-proof buildings. To say of a certain por tion of a building that it is fire-proof sug gests a comparison between that portion and

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