Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Challenge \Chal"lenge\, n. [OE. chalenge claim, accusation,
   challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation,
   contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See
   {Calumny}.]
   1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any
      kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel;
      also, the letter or message conveying the summons.

            A challenge to controversy.           --Goldsmith.

   2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his
      post, and demanding the countersign.

   3. A claim or demand. [Obs.]

            There must be no challenge of superiority.
                                                  --Collier.

   4. (Hunting) The opening and crying of hounds at first
      finding the scent of their game.

   5. (Law) An exception to a juror or to a member of a court
      martial, coupled with a demand that he should be held
      incompetent to act; the claim of a party that a certain
      person or persons shall not sit in trial upon him or his
      cause. --Blackstone

   6. An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote.
      The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U.
      S.]

   {Challenge to the array} (Law), an exception to the whole
      panel.

   {Challenge to the favor}, the alleging a special cause, the
      sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and
      office it is to decide upon it.

   {Challenge to the polls}, an exception taken to any one or
      more of the individual jurors returned.

   {Peremptory challenge}, a privilege sometimes allowed to
      defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors
      (fixed by statute in different States) without assigning
      any cause.

   {Principal challenge}, that which the law allows to be
      sufficient if found to be true.