Make, Maker

MAKE - English law. To perform or execute; as to make his law, is to perform that law which a man had bound himself to do; that is, to clear himself of an action commenced against him, by his oath, and the oaths of his neighbors. To make default, is to fail to appear in proper time. To make oath, is to swear according to the form prescribed by law.

MAKER - This term is applied to one who makes a promissory note and promises to pay it when due. He who makes a bill of exchange is called the drawer, and frequently in common parlance and in books of Reports we find the word drawer inaccurately applied to the maker of a promissory note.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.