英文法律词典 M-114

MAYHEMAVIT. Maimed. This is a term of art which cannot be supplied in pleadings by any other word; as, mutilavit, truncavit, &c. 3 Tho. Co. Litt. 548.

MAYOR, officer. The chief or executive magistrate¹ of a city who bears this title.

2. It is generally his duty to cause the laws of the city to be enforeed, and to superintend inferior officers, such as constables², watchmen and the like. But the power and authority which mayors possess being given to them by local regulations, vary in different places.

MAYOR'S COURT. The name of a court usually established in cities, composed of a mayor, recorder and aldermen, generally having jurisdiction³ of offences committed within the city, and of other matters specially⁴ given them by the statute⁵.

MEASURE. That which is used as a rule to determine a quantity. A certain quantity of something, taken for a unit, and which expresses a relation with other quantities of the same thing.

2. The constitution of the United States gives power to congress to " fix the standard of weights and measures." Art. 1, B. 8. Hitherto this has remained as a dormant⁶ power, though frequently brought before the attention of congress.

3. The states, it seems, possess the power to legislate⁷ on this subject, or, at least, the existing standards at the adoption⁸ of the constitution remain in full force. 3 Sto. Const. 21; Rawle on the Const. 102.

4. By a resolution of congress, of the 14th of June, 1836, the secretary of the treasury⁹ is directed to cause a complete set of all weights and measures adopted as standards, and now either made or in the progress of manufacture, for the use of the several custom-houses and for other purposes, to be delivered to the governor of each state in the Union, or to such person as he may appoint, for the use of the states respectively, to the end that an uniform standard of weights and measures may be established throughout the United States.

5. Measures are either, 1. Of length. 2. Of surface. 3. Of solidity or capacity. 4. Of force or gravity, or what is commonly called weight. (q. v.) 5. Of angles. 6. Of time. The measures now used in the United States, are the same as those of England, and are as follows

                        1. MEASURES OF LENGTH.
12 inches = l foot
3 feet = l yard
51/2 yards = l rod or pole
40 poles = 1 furlong
8 furlongs = l mile 
69 1/15 miles = l degree of a great circle
of the earth.

An inch is the smallest lineal measure to which a name is given, but subdivisions are used for many purposes. Among mechanics, the inch is commonly divided into eighths. By the officers of the revenue and by scientific persons, it is divided into tenths, hundredths, &c. Formerly¹⁰ it was made to consist of twelve parts called lines, but these have fallen into disuse.