Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Legal \Le"gal\ (l[=e]"gal), a. [L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law;
prob. orig., that which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed),
and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. l['e]gal. Cf. {Lie} to
be prostrate, {Loyal}, {Leal}.]
1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating
to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test;
a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything
is legal which the laws do not forbid.
2. (Theol.)
(a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from
free grace; or resting on works for salvation.
(b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in
accordance with the law of Moses.
3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from
the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets.
--Bouvier. --Burrill.
{Legal cap}. See under {Cap}.
{Legal tender}.
(a) The act of tendering in the performance of a contract
or satisfaction of a claim that which the law
prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as
the law prescribes or permits.
(b) That currency, or money, which the law authorizes a
debtor to tender and requires a creditor to receive.
It differs in different countries.
Syn: Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized.
See {Lawful}.
Cap \Cap\, n. [OE. cappe, AS. c[ae]ppe, cap, cape, hood, fr. LL,
cappa, capa; perhaps of Iberian origin, as Isidorus of
Seville mentions it first: ``Capa, quia quasi totum capiat
hominem; it. capitis ornamentum.'' See 3d {Cape}, and cf. 1st
{Cope}.]
1. A covering for the head; esp.
(a) One usually with a visor but without a brim, for men
and boys;
(b) One of lace, muslin, etc., for women, or infants;
(c) One used as the mark or ensign of some rank, office,
or dignity, as that of a cardinal.
2. The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive. --Shak.
3. A respectful uncovering of the head.
He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks.
--Fuller.
4. (Zo["o]l.) The whole top of the head of a bird from the
base of the bill to the nape of the neck.
5. Anything resembling a cap in form, position, or use; as:
(a) (Arch.) The uppermost of any assemblage of parts; as,
the cap of column, door, etc.; a capital, coping,
cornice, lintel, or plate.
(b) Something covering the top or end of a thing for
protection or ornament.
(c) (Naut.) A collar of iron or wood used in joining
spars, as the mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and
the jib boom; also, a covering of tarred canvas at the
end of a rope.
(d) A percussion cap. See under {Percussion}.
(e) (Mech.) The removable cover of a journal box.
(f) (Geom.) A portion of a spherical or other convex
surface.
6. A large size of writing paper; as, flat cap; foolscap;
legal cap.
{Cap of a cannon}, a piece of lead laid over the vent to keep
the priming dry; -- now called an apron.
{Cap in hand}, obsequiously; submissively.
{Cap of liberty}. See {Liberty cap}, under {Liberty}.
{Cap of maintenance}, a cap of state carried before the kings
of England at the coronation. It is also carried before
the mayors of some cities.
{Cap money}, money collected in a cap for the huntsman at the
death of the fox.
{Cap paper}.
(a) A kind of writing paper including flat cap, foolscap,
and legal cap.
(b) A coarse wrapping paper used for making caps to hold
commodities.
{Cap rock} (Mining), The layer of rock next overlying ore,
generally of barren vein material.
{Flat cap}, cap See {Foolscap}.
{Forage cap}, the cloth undress head covering of an officer
of soldier.
{Legal cap}, a kind of folio writing paper, made for the use
of lawyers, in long narrow sheets which have the fold at
the top or ``narrow edge.''
{To set one's cap}, to make a fool of one. (Obs.) --Chaucer.
{To set one's cap for}, to try to win the favor of a man with
a view to marriage. [Colloq.]