from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Policy \Pol"i*cy\, n. [F. police; cf. Pr. polissia, Sp.
p['o]lizia, It. p['o]lizza; of uncertain origin; cf. L.
pollex thumb (as being used in pressing the seal), in LL.
also, seal; or cf. LL. politicum, poleticum, polecticum, L.
polyptychum, account book, register, fr. Gr. ? having many
folds or leaves; ? many + ? fold, leaf, from ? to fold; or
cf. LL. apodixa a receipt.]
1. A ticket or warrant for money in the public funds.
[1913 Webster]
2. The writing or instrument in which a contract of insurance
is embodied; an instrument in writing containing the terms
and conditions on which one party engages to indemnify
another against loss arising from certain hazards, perils,
or risks to which his person or property may be exposed.
See {Insurance}.
[1913 Webster]
3. A method of gambling by betting as to what numbers will be
drawn in a lottery; as, to play policy.
[1913 Webster]
{Interest policy}, a policy that shows by its form that the
assured has a real, substantial interest in the matter
insured.
{Open policy}, one in which the value of the goods or
property insured is not mentioned.
{Policy book}, a book to contain a record of insurance
policies.
{Policy holder}, one to whom an insurance policy has been
granted.
{Policy shop}, a gambling place where one may bet on the
numbers which will be drawn in lotteries.
{Valued policy}, one in which the value of the goods,
property, or interest insured is specified.
{Wager policy}, a policy that shows on the face of it that
the contract it embodies is a pretended insurance, founded
on an ideal risk, where the insured has no interest in
anything insured.
[1913 Webster]