cross-bill, cross bill Law.
[cross a. 6, cross- 9.]
A bill filed in Chancery by a defendant against the plaintiff or other co-defendants in the same suit. b. A bill of exchange given in consideration of another bill (Wharton).
| 1637 in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 315 That their honours will be pleased to accept of a cross bill against the prelates. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. iii. 655 Who, putting in a new cross-bill, May traverse th' action. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 448 If he [the defendant] has any relief to pray against the plaintiff, he must do it by an original bill of his own, which is called a cross bill. 1883 Law Rep. 11 Q. Bench Div. 466 A counter-claim is like a cross-bill under the former practice in equity, which fell with the original bill. |