Legal Definitions - dica

In legal contexts, "dica" is a term derived from Law Latin that refers to an account tally. It signifies a record, often a count or balance, used to keep track of financial or other numerical accounts.

Dica refers to a simple record or count, often made by marking or notching, used to keep track of items, quantities, or transactions. It is essentially an early form of an account tally, particularly in historical or less formalized contexts.

• Example 1: Imagine a medieval manor's bailiff tasked with collecting taxes from tenants. Instead of complex ledgers, the bailiff might use a wooden stick or a piece of parchment to make a mark for each bushel of wheat or each head of livestock received. This collection of marks, representing the total amount collected, would be considered a dica, serving as a basic record of the manor's income.

• Example 2: In an early town council meeting, before sophisticated voting systems existed, a clerk might be responsible for counting the votes cast for a new ordinance. For each "aye" or "nay," the clerk could make a simple stroke on a tablet or piece of paper. The resulting collection of strokes, indicating the final count of votes, would function as a dica, providing a clear tally of the decision.

• Example 3: Consider a merchant in a bustling port city in the 16th century, receiving a shipment of goods from overseas. As each crate of spices or bolt of cloth is unloaded from the ship, the merchant's assistant might make a corresponding mark on a manifest or a piece of chalk on a board. This running count, or dica, ensures that all items are accounted for and matches the expected delivery.