Feme sole merchant

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Feme \Feme\ (f[e^]m or f[a^]m), n. [OF. feme, F. femme.] (Old
   Law)
   A woman. --Burrill.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Feme covert} (Law), a married woman. See {Covert}, a., 3.

   {Feme sole} (Law), a single or unmarried woman; a woman who
      has never been married, or who has been divorced, or whose
      husband is dead.

   {Feme sole trader} or {Feme sole merchant} (Eng. Law), a
      married woman, who, by the custom of London, engages in
      business on her own account, inpendently of her husband.
      [1913 Webster]
    

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