Pais

2 definitions found

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

  Pais \Pa`is\ (p[.a]`[-e]"), n. [OF. pu["i]s, F. pays, country.]
     (O. E. Law)
     The country; the people of the neighborhood.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: A trial per pais is a trial by the country, that is, by


           a jury; and matter in pais is matter triable by the
           country, or jury.
           [1913 Webster]

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

  PAIS, or PAYS. A French word signifying country. In law, matter in pais is 
  matter of fact in opposition to matter of record: a trial per pais, is a 
  trial by the country, that is, by a jury.