from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Challenge \Chal"lenge\, n. [OE. chalenge claim, accusation,
challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation,
contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See
{Calumny}.]
1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any
kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel;
also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
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A challenge to controversy. --Goldsmith.
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2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his
post, and demanding the countersign.
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3. A claim or demand. [Obs.]
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There must be no challenge of superiority.
--Collier.
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4. (Hunting) The opening and crying of hounds at first
finding the scent of their game.
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5. (Law) An exception to a juror or to a member of a court
martial, coupled with a demand that he should be held
incompetent to act; the claim of a party that a certain
person or persons shall not sit in trial upon him or his
cause. --Blackstone
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6. An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote.
The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U.
S.]
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{Challenge to the array} (Law), an exception to the whole
panel.
{Challenge to the favor}, the alleging a special cause, the
sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and
office it is to decide upon it.
{Challenge to the polls}, an exception taken to any one or
more of the individual jurors returned.
{Peremptory challenge}, a privilege sometimes allowed to
defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors
(fixed by statute in different States) without assigning
any cause.
{Principal challenge}, that which the law allows to be
sufficient if found to be true.
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