Peremptory challenge

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. [1913 Webster]

A challenge to controversy. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]

2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign. [1913 Webster]

3. A claim or demand. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

There must be no challenge of superiority. --Collier. [1913 Webster]

4. (Hunting) The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game. [1913 Webster]

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 [1913 Webster]

6. An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]