JEOFAILE

1 definition found

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

  JEOFAILE. This is a law French phrase, which signifies, "I am in an error; I 
  have failed." There are certain statutes called statutes of amendment and 
  jeofails because, where a pleader perceives any slip in the form of his 
  proceedings, and acknowledges the error, (jeofaile,) he is at liberty by 
  those statutes to amend it. The amendment, however, is seldom made, but the 
  benefit is attained by the court's overlooking the exception. 3 Bl. Com. 


  407; 1 Saund. 228, n. 1; Doct. Pl. 287; Dane's Ab. h.t.