Page:Black's Law Dictionary (Second Edition).djvu/776

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MEANS

not the meander line as naturally run on the ground. is the boundary. St. Paul & P. R. Co. T. Schurmeier. 7 Wall. 2815, 19 L. Ed. 7 ‘ Niles v. Cedar Point Club. 175 U. S. 300, Sup. Ct. 124, 44 L. Ed. 171.

MEANS. 1. The instruiuent or agency through which an end or purpose is accomplished. '

2. Resources; awlllable property; money or pi-nperty, as an i1v.i1'l:ible instrunientality for effecting i1 purpose furnishing a liveli- hood, paying a debt, or the like.

—Means of support. This term embraces all those resources from which the necessaries nnd comforts of life are or may be supplied, such as lands, goods, salaries, wages, or other sourc- es of income. Mi-iilel v. Antbis, 71 IE. 241.

MEASE, or MESE. Noriiian-French for a house. Litt. §§ 74, 251

MZEASON-DUE. (Corruption of maison ale Dian.) A house of God; a monastery; religious house or hospital. See 39 Eliz. c. 5.

MEASURE. That by which extent or

dimension is ascertained, either length, breadth, thickness, capacity, or amount. Webster. The rule by which anything is iidjustod or proportioned. —Mensure of damages. The rule, or rather the system of rules, governing the adjustment oi apportionment of damages as a r-nmpensa- iion for injuries in actions at inn-.—Meiisni-e of value. in the ordinary sense of the word, "measure" vmuld mean something by compari- son with Vi]ii(‘l.i we may ascertain what is the value of anything. "' hen We consider. further, that value itself is relative, and that two things are necessary to constitute it, independently of the third thing, which is to measure it, we may define a "measure of value" to ba something by comparing with which nny two other things We may infer their value in relation to one another. 2 Mill. Pol. I-icon. 101.

MEASURER, or METER. An officer in the city of London, who measured woolen clothes. coals. etc.

MEASURING MONEY. In old English law. A duty which some persons enacted, by letters piitent, for every piece of cloth made, besides atuage. I\'ow abolished.

MECHANIC. A workman employed in shaping and uniting materials. such as wood, metal. etc., into some kind of structure, ma- chine, or other object, requiring the use of tools. Story v. Wnlker. 11 Lea (’l‘enn.) 517, 47 Am Rep. 305; In re Osborn (I). C.) 104 Fed. 751; Savannah & C. R. Co. v. Callahan, 40 Ga. 511: Berks County v. Bertolet, 13 Pa. 524.

MECHANIC’S LIEN. A species of lien created ‘by statute in most of the states, which exists in favor of persons who have performed work or furnished material in and for the erection of a building. Their iien attaches to the land as well as the

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MEDIZE ET INFIRME

huilding, and is intended to secure for a priority of payment.

The lieu of a mechanic is created by and IS intended to be a security for the and value of work performed and ma furnished, and as such it arm-as exists on the land and the building thereon, from the commencement of that the labor is being performed ll materials furnished; and the meciri an actual and positive interest lu Imv ing anterior to the time of its r w - by the court, or the reducing or the a 7 due to a judgment. First Nat Rn _ . Campbell, 2-; Tex. Civ. App. 160, an s 830; Carter v. Humboldt F. ins. (1 Iowa, 2%; Barrows v. Biiughmau, 9 M i" 217.

MECHANICAL. Having relation to. produced or accomplished by, the nu o mechanism or machinery. Used chiefly. patent law. See compound terms infra. —Meeha.nicnl equivalent. A device - may be siilistituieii or ailiipted, instead of . " other, by uny person skilled in the par ' art from his knowledge of the art, and


,‘ ' b v. , .... _ ns. TIP Puckcrs' A ‘n v. Lctson (C. C.) 119 Fed Jensen Can-Filling Mach. Co. v. N Fed. 239, 14 C. C. . 383 K

II. Ca. v. Iiinllell R. CCL. 77 Fed. 4-10. C. A. .—MechanIcaJ movement. A


Campbell Printing Pros 'ng Press C0.. 102 Fed. 159. ‘ —l\lIechaniei3I process. _ Meohanical skill. As distingiu.

ed fmm invention or inventive cnpnnlty, term means such skill, intelligence, innnnu cy or constructive ability in the adaptation o _ means to ends as would be possessed_iind - hihited by an ordinardy clever mechanic in practice of his particular art or trade. Ilollister v. Benedict & B, Mfg. ( . 113 S. 5’). 5 Sup. (‘L 717, 28 L. Ed. ‘I01 Joli! . v. Pennsvhania Steel Co. 67 F‘ Perfection Window Cleaner ( v. Bus- 577: Stirunson v. Woodman. I0 19 L. Ed. SUG. '

MEDERIA. In old records. A house or place Where metheglin, or mend, was made

MEDFEE. In old English law. A brlhc or reward; a compensation SW81! U1 9' change, where the things exchanged were not of equal value. Coweit

MEDIA AITNATA. In Spanish law. Half-yeariy profits of la.nt1 Mclilullen V. Hodge, 5 Tex. 34. 79.

Lu old English law. Mid- at midnight.

MEDIA NOX. night. Ad medium noctem, Fleta, Ill). 5, c. 5. § 31.

MEDIIE ET INITRME MANUS HOM- IITES. Men of a middle and base condition. Blount.