Dock-warrant

(Com.), a custom-house license or authority. Simmonds.—Land-warrant, an instrument issued from the department of the interior of the United States, certifying that the person in whose favor it is drawn is entitled to locate a specified number of acres of land at any land-office of the United States, &c., under certain limitations. This warrant conveys no title to the land, but is in many respects similar to a bond for a deed. It is also called a certificate.—Search-warrant (Law), a precept authorizing a person to enter houses, shops, and the like, to search, usually for goods stolen, but sometimes for other purposes.—Warrant of attorney, written authority given by a client to his attorney to appear for him in court, and to suffer judgment to pass against him by confession in favor of some specified person. Bouvier.—Warrant officer, a non-commissioned officer, as sergeant and corporal in the army, or gunner and boatswain in the navy.—Warrant to sue and defend. (a.) (O. Practice.) A special warrant from the crown, authorizing a party to appoint an attorney to sue or defend for him. (b.) A special authority given by a party to his attorney to commence a suit, or to appear and defend a suit in his behalf;—now disused. Burrill.