Chance-medley

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chance-medley \Chance"-med`ley\, n. [Chance + medley.]
     1. (Law) The killing of another in self-defense upon a sudden
        and unpremeditated encounter. See {Chaud-Medley}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of


           homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing
           of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but,
           in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens
           in defending one's self against assault. --Bouvier.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Luck; chance; accident. --Milton. --Cowper.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  chance-medley
       n : unpremeditated killing of a human being in self defense

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  CHANCE-MEDLEY, criminal law. A sudden affray. This word is sometimes applied 
  to any kind of homicide by misadventure, but in strictness it is applicable 
  to such killing only as happens se defendendo. (q.v.) 4 Bl. Com. 184.