Chief

Concept of Chief

Traditional meaning of chief [1] in the English common law history: Head; lord; principal. Chief justice: the oldest, or presiding judge of a court. The chief justice of England is the chief justice of the K. B. Chief lord : the ultimate or highest lord of the fee, of whom the mesne lords held, before Stat. Quia Emptores. A tenant in chief is one holding directly of the chief lord, of the king. Chief rents: quitrents; rents paid by the freeholders of a manor in discharge of all services; see RENTS OF ASSIZE. Chief-pledge: a head-borow; borsholder; the head of a decennary. Chief, tenure in; see CHIEF LORD. Examination in chief: the first examination of a witness, as distinguished from cross-examination. [rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Based on A concise law dictionary of words, phrases and maxims, “Chief”, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911, United States. This term and/or definition may be absolete. It is also called the Stimson’s Law dictionary, based on a glossary of terms, included Chief.

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