MAI 



446 



M A L 



kernel resembling that of our apricot, 

 much used as a dessert at all public feasts. 

 It is said to promote digestion. 



MAI'HEM, i Maim. In law, a wound by 



MAY'HEM. j which a person loses the use 

 of some member that might have been a 

 defence to him. The term is from Norm. 

 mahemer, or mahaigner, to maim. 



MAIL, Fr. mattle. A coat of steel net- 

 work, formerly worn for defending the 

 body against swords, poniards, &c. It was 

 of two kinds, chain and plate mail: the 

 former consisting of iron rings, each hav- 

 ing four others inserted into it ; the latter 

 consisting of small laminae of metal, laid 

 over one another, like the scales of a fish, 

 and sewed down to a strong linen or 



leathern jacket. 2. In ships, a square 



machine, composed of rings interwoven 

 like net- work ; used for rubbing off the 

 loose hemp from lines and white cordage. 



MAILED. 1. In. heraldry, speckled, as the 



feathers of hawks, partridges, &c. 2. 



Innatural history, protected by hard and 

 strong scales. 



MAILS, ( In Scottish law, the rents of 



MAILLS. ) an estate. 



MAIN'OB, from Norm, meinoevre. from 

 Lat. a manu, in the work. An old law- 

 term, denoting the being taken with the 

 thing stolen in possession. 



MAIN'PERNOR, from Norm, main, and 

 pernon, pernez, for prenon, prenez. A 

 surety fora prisoner's appearance in court 

 at a day. Mainpernors differ from bail in 

 that a man's bail may imprison or sur- 

 render him before the stipulated day of 

 appearance ; mainpernors can do neither. 

 They are bound to produce the prisoner to 

 answer all charges whatsoever. 



MAiN'pRizE,from Norm, main, andpris. 

 A writ directed to the sheriff, command- 

 ing him to take sureties for the prisoner's 

 appearance; these sureties are called 

 mainpernors. 



MAIN -SHEET. The sheet that extends 

 and fastens the main-sail. 



MAINTENANCE. Inlaw, an officious in- 

 termeddling in a suit in which the person 

 has no interest, by assisting either party 

 with money or means to prosecute or de- 

 fend it. 2. A cap of maintenance is a 



cap of dignity, formerly belonging to the 

 rank of a duke ; also the name of the 

 lord-mayor's fur-cap. 



MAIN-TOP'. The top of the' main-mast of 

 ship or brig. 



MAIN-YARD'. That on which the main- 

 sail is extended. 



MAIZE, Indian corn. One of the cereal 

 grasses, the Zca mays, the only species of 

 corn cultivated in America previous to its 

 discovery. There are numerous varieties, 

 but the ear in general consists of about 

 600 grains set closely together in rows, to 

 the number of eight rten, or twelve. The 

 drain, us a bread -corn, is liked by some ; 



it contains much mucilage but little glu- 

 ten, and is therefore inferior to wheat, 

 and even rye. In the Lettish and Livonic 

 lan-ua-es, niay.-e is bread ; in Irish mane 

 is the word for food. 



MAJ'ESTT. A title nf emperors, kin^s, and 

 queens; Lat. majestas, from the root of 

 magis, major, more, greater. The title 

 was substituted for higkness, in the reign 

 of Henry VIII. 



MA'JOR, Lat. for greater. In music, an 

 epithet for the modes, in which the third 

 is four semitones above the key-note, and 

 to intervals consisting of four semitones. 

 Major and minor are terms which apply to 

 concords which differ from each other by 

 a semitone. The difference between the 

 fifth and fourth is a major tone ; the differ- 

 ence between the major fourth and third 

 is a major semitone. The major tone sur- 

 passes the minor by a comma. 2. In 



military affairs, an officer next in rank 

 above a captain, and below a lieutenant- 

 colonel ; the lowest field- officer. The 

 drum-major is the first drummer in a regi- 

 ment. A serjeant-major is a non-commis- 

 sioned officer subordinate to the adjutant. 

 For major-general and brigade-major, see 



GENERAL and BRIGADE. 3. In logic, the 



first proposition of a regular syllogism. 



containing the principal term. 4. In 



law, a person of full age to manage hi 

 own affairs. A man is major at 21, 

 and a woman at 18, years of age. 



MAJORAT'. In law, the right of succes- 

 sion to property according to age. 



MA'JOR DO'MO. An Italian term used to 

 signify a steward, or master of the house- 

 hold. 



MA'JOR TERM. In logic, is, in a syllo- 

 gism, the predicate of the conclusion. 

 The major premise is that which contains 

 the major term. In hypothetical syllo- 

 gisms, the hypothetical premise is called 

 the major. 



MAJCS'CULJE or CAPITALES LITERS. In 

 diplomatics, capital letters. 



MAKING-UP. With distillers, the reduc- 

 ing of spirits to a standard of strength, 

 usually called proof. 



MA'LA. In law, evils ; Mala inse, evils in 

 themselves. A phrase denoting unlawful 

 acts, as theft, murder, &c.; as distin- 

 guished from mala prohibita, evils prohi- 

 bited by positive written law. 



MAL'ABAR PLUM. In botany, the Eu- 

 genia jambos, also its fruit. The tree 

 grows plentifully on the coast of Malabar, 

 and the fruit is much esteemed. 



MAHBATH'RUM, Indian leaf. The leaf 

 of the Laurus cassia, so named from 

 Malabar, in India, whence it is brought, 

 and bet re, a leaf. 



MALAC'CA BEAN. The fruit of the Ana- 

 cardium Indicnm or Orientale. It very 

 closely resembles the cashew nut. 



Mmc'ci KOOT. The root of tho Saiiitta 



