Search Result for "chance-medley": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. an unpremeditated killing of a human being in self defense;


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Chance-medley \Chance"-med`ley\, n. [Chance + medley.] 1. (Law) The killing of another in self-defense upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. See Chaud-Medley. [1913 Webster] Note: The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens in defending one's self against assault. --Bouvier. [1913 Webster] 2. Luck; chance; accident. --Milton. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

chance-medley n 1: an unpremeditated killing of a human being in self defense
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

CHANCE-MEDLEY, criminal law. A sudden affray. This word is sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, but in strictness it is applicable to such killing only as happens se defendendo. (q.v.) 4 Bl. Com. 184.