rejoinder

n. answer, response, reply

Noun
1. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher"
(synonym) retort, return, riposte, replication, comeback, counter
(hypernym) reply, response
(hyponym) sass, sassing, backtalk, back talk, lip, mouth
2. (law) a pleading made by a defendant in response to the plaintiff's replication
(hypernym) pleading
(classification) law, jurisprudence

(v. i.)
To make a rejoinder.
  

(n.)
The defendant's answer to the plaintiff's replication.
  

(n.)
An answer to a reply; or, in general, an answer or reply.
  

The rejoining (returning to active consideration) of claims previously withdrawn from consideration to due to an election requirement (see restriction).

-- see MPEP 821.04

Context: Patent 

The name of the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's replication.

The general requisites of a rejoinder are, 1. It must be triable. 2. It must not be double, nor will several rejoinders be allowed to the same declaration. 3. It must be certain. 4. It must be direct and positive, and not merely by way of recital or argumentative. 5. it must not be repugnant or insensible. 6. It must be conformable to, and not depart from the plea.
   

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