DAY
day. 1. Any 24-hour period; the time it takes the earth to revolve once on its axis <we have a
day to prepare a mandamus petition>. [Cases: Time 8.C.J.S. Time §§ 8–10.] 2. The period
between the rising and the setting of the sun <day or night>. — Also termed natural day. 3.
Sunlight <we can see it in the day>.4. The period when the sun is above the horizon, along with
the period in the early morning and late evening when a person’s face is discernible. 5. Any
specified time period, esp. as distinguished from other periods <the good old days> <a day’s
work>. — Also termed (in senses 2–4) daytime. Cf. NIGHT.
adjournment day. 1. The day on which an organization, such as a court or legislature,
adjourns. 2.Hist. A later day appointed by the judges at regular sittings at nisi prius to try an issue
of fact not then ready for trial.
adjournment day in error.Hist. A day scheduled for completion of matters not finished on the
affirmance day of the term.
affirmance day general.Hist. In the Court of Exchequer, a day appointed after the beginning
of every term to affirm or reverse judgments.
answer day.The last day for a defendant to file and serve a responsive pleading in a lawsuit. •
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a defendant generally must serve an answer (1) within
20 days after being served with the summons and complaint, or (2) if a defendant timely waives
service at the plaintiff’s request, within 60 days after the request for waiver was sent. Fed. R. Civ.
P. 4(d), 12(a). — Also termed answer date; appearance date; appearance day.
artificial day.The period from the rising to the setting of the sun. — Also termed solar day;
civil day; dies solaris.
astronomical day.See solar day (2).
banking day.See BANKING DAY.
business day.A day that most institutions are open for business, usu. a day on which banks
and major stock exchanges are open, excluding Saturdays and Sundays.
calendar day.A consecutive 24-hour day running from midnight to midnight. — Also termed
natural day. [Cases: Time 8. C.J.S. Time §§ 8–10.]
civil day.See artificial day.
clear day.One of many full, consecutive days between (1) the date when a period, measured
in days, begins and (2) the date when an event that ends the period occurs. • For example, if a
statute or contract requires a party to give another party five clear days of notice of a hearing, and
the hearing is scheduled to be held on the 31st day of the month, the party giving notice must do
so by the 25th day of the month so that five full (clear) days elapse between but not including the
25th and 31st.
common day.In England, an ordinary court day.
court day.A day on which a particular court is open for court business. See Fed. R. Civ. P.
6(a); Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(a).
day of demurrage.Maritime law. A day beyond the days allowed for loading or unloading
cargo. • A fine is usu. assessed for each day of delay. See DEMURRAGE. Cf. LAYDAY.
dedication day.Hist. A day on which people from several villages gathered in one place to
celebrate the feast day of the saint and patron of a church.
entire day.An undivided day, rather than parts of two or more days aggregated to form a
24-hour period. • An entire day must have a legal, fixed, precise time to begin and end. A statute
referring to an entire day contemplates a 24-hour period beginning and ending at midnight. [Cases:
Time 8. C.J.S. Time §§ 8–10.]
ferial day (feer-ee-<<schwa>>l).Hist. 1. A day free from labor, pleading, and service of
process; a holiday. 2. A working day, under a 1449 statute (27 Hen. 6, ch. 5).
juridical day (juu-rid-i-k<<schwa>>l). A day on which legal proceedings can be held. — Also
termed judicial day. Cf. nonjudicial day; NONJURIDICAL.
law day.See LAW DAY.
lay day.See LAYDAY.
legislative day.A day that begins when a legislative body reconvenes after a recess or
adjournment, and ends when the body next recesses or adjourns until a different calendar day. • A
legislative day may extend over several calendar days.
love day.Hist. 1.A day when neighbors amicably settled a dispute. 2. A day when one
neighbor helped another without payment.
natural day. 1. The 24-hour period from midnight to midnight. — Also termed calendar day.
[Cases: Time 8. C.J.S. Time §§ 8–10.] 2. The period between sunrise and sunset. — Also termed
artificial day.
nonjudicial day.A day when courts do not sit or when legal proceedings cannot be conducted,
such as a Sunday or legal holiday. See LEGAL HOLIDAY; NON JURIDICUS. Cf. juridical day.
[Cases: Time 8. C.J.S. Time §§ 8–10.]
peremptory day.A day assigned for trial or hearing, without further opportunity for
quarter day.Hist. One of four days during a year that money owed (such as rent) was legally
or customarily payable. • In England and Wales the quarter days are Lady Day, March 25;
Midsummer Day, June 24; Michaelmas Day, September 29; and Christmas Day, December 25. In
Scotland the traditional quarter or term days are Candlemas, February 2; Whitsunday (or
Whitsuntide), May 15; Lammas, August 1; and Martinmas, November 11. Scotland’s statutory
quarter or term days are the 28th of February, May, August, and November. If a document
specifies a different date for a quarter day, then the specified date controls. — Also termed (in
Scots law) term day.
return day. 1. A day on which a defendant must appear in court (as for an arraignment).
[Cases: Criminal Law 228. C.J.S. Criminal Law § 344.] 2. A day on which a defendant must file
an answer. 3. A day on which a proof of service must be returned to court. — Also termed rule day.
[Cases: Federal Civil Procedure 512; Pleading 131. C.J.S. Pleading § 198.] 4. A day on which
a writ of execution must be returned to court. [Cases: Execution 333. C.J.S. Executions § 323.] 5.
A day specified by law for counting votes in an election. — Also termed return date. [Cases:
Elections 126(7), 241. C.J.S. Elections § 119(1).]
solar day. 1. See artificial day. 2. The 24-hour period from noon to noon. — Also termed
astronomical day.
term day.Scots law. See quarter day. [Blacks Law 8th]