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A kind of stiff cloth, used chiefly by women, for underskirts, to expand the gown worn over it; -- so called because originally made of hair.

Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair.

A bill brought by a defendant, in an equity or chancery suit, against the plaintiff, respecting the matter in question in that suit. Bouvier.

tly against the lower jaw of the horse. He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. Drayton. By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. Denham.

That part of the process in which the plaintiff sets forth in order and at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the plaintiff's case containing the count, or counts. See Count, n., 3. Declaration of Independence. (Amer. Hist.) See under Independence. -- Declaration of rights. (Eng. Hist) See Bill of rights,…

To state the plaintiff's cause of action at law in a legal form; as, the plaintiff declares in trespass.

To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. Burrill.

A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.

he defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

One who demands; the plaintiff in a real action; any plaintiff.

A stiff felt hat with a dome-shaped crown.

The termination of an action in practice by the voluntary act of the plaintiff; an entry on the record that the plaintiff discontinues his action.

The fictitious lessee acting as plaintiff in the common-law action of ejectment, the fictitious defendant being usually denominated Richard Roe. Hence, a fictitious name for a party, real or fictitious, to any action or proceeding.

Gum, starch, and the like, used in stiffening or finishing silk, linen, and other fabrics.

A stiff flour pudding, boiled in a bag; -- a term used especially by seamen; as, plum duff.

A piece of wood set between two studs, posts, etc., to stiffen and support them.

l writ of execution, by which a defendant's goods are appraised and delivered to the plaintiff, and, if no sufficient to satisfy the debt, all of his lands are delivered, to be held till the debt is paid by the rents and profits, or until the defendant's interest has expired.

deed or like instrument on parchment. Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials. Hawthorne. Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. De Quincey.

to put an injunction on. This is a suit to enjoin the defendants from disturbing the plaintiffs. Kent.

Term; expression; phrase. "Stiffed with epithets of war." Shak.