Law Dictionary Definitions

festum (fes-t<<schwa>>m). [Latin] A feast-day, holiday, or festival. FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME fetal alcohol syndrome.A variety of birth defects caused by the mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy. • The birth defects include facial abnormalities, mental retardation, and growth deficiencies. — Abbr. FAS.[Blacks Law 8th]

festuca (fes-tyoo-k<<schwa>>).Hist. A rod, staff, or stick used as a pledge (or gage) of good faith by a party to a contract or as a token of conveyance of land. • In Roman law, a festuca was a symbol of ownership. — Also termed fistuca; vindicta. See LIVERY OF SEISIN. “The wed or gage, however,…

Festo doctrine.Patents. The rule that the voluntary narrowing of a patent claim may give rise to prosecution-history estoppel. Festo Corp. v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Co., 304 F.3d 1289 (Fed. Cir. 2003). [Cases: Patents 168(2.2). C.J.S. Patents § 297.][Blacks Law 8th]

festinum remedium (fes-tI-n<<schwa>>m ri-mee-dee-<<schwa>>m). [Latin] Hist. A speedy remedy. • It was used in cases, such as actions for dower or assize, where the redress of injury was given without unnecessary delay.[Blacks Law 8th]

festing-man.Hist. A bondsman; a surety. See FRANKPLEDGE.[Blacks Law 8th]

fertile-octogenarian rule.The legal fiction, assumed under the rule against perpetuities, that a woman can become pregnant as long as she is alive. • The case that gave rise to this fiction was Jee v. Audley, 1 Cox 324, 29 Eng. Rep. 1186 (ch. 1787). See W. Barton Leach, Perpetuities: New Hampshire Defertilizes Octogenarians, 77 Harv.…

ferry franchise.See FERRY(4).[Blacks Law 8th]

ferry,n.1. A boat or vessel used to carry persons or property across water, usu. with fixed terminals and short distances. [Cases: Ferries 2.] 2. The commercial transportation of persons or property across water. [Cases: Ferries 2.] 3. The place where a ferry passes across water, including the continuation of the highway on both sides of…

ferriage (fer-ee-ij).Hist. The toll or fare paid for the transportation of persons or property on a ferry. [Cases: Ferries 31.][Blacks Law 8th]  

FERPA.abbr.FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT.[Blacks Law 8th]