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WORDS AND PHRASES USED IN BUSINESS

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Note: Some of these terms are outdated or rarely used today but they’re sure fun to read…

ACCOUNT CURRENT – A running account between two persons or firms.

ACCOUNT SALES – A detailed statement of the sale of goods by a
commission merchant, showing also the charges and net proceeds.

ADMINISTRATOR – A man appointed by the Court to settle the estate
of a deceased person.

ADMINISTRATRIX – A woman appointed by the Court to settle the
estate of a deceased person.

AD VALOREM – According to value. A term used in the Custom House in
estimating the duties on imported goods.

AFFIDAVIT -A written declaration under oath.

ANNUITY – An annual allowance; a sum to be paid yearly, to continue
for life or a fixed period.

ANNUL – To cancel; to make void.

ANTEDATE – To date before time of writing.

APPRAISED – The act of placing a value on goods.

APPRAISER – A person appointed to value real or personal property.

ARBITRATION – The settlement of a disputed question by a person
chosen by the parties to the dispute.

ASSETS – The total resources of a person in business.

ASSIGNEE – A person to whom the property of a bankrupt, or an
insolvent debtor, is transferred for adjustment for the benefit
of Auditors.

ASSIGNMENT – The act of transferring property to the Assignee.

ATTACHMENT – A warrant for the purpose of seizing a man’s property.

BALANCE SHEET – A statement in condensed form, showing the
condition of a business.

BANKABLE – Receivable at a bank at par or face value.

BANK BALANCE – Net amount on deposit in bank.

BILL OF LADING – A written account of goods shipped, and the
condition of same, having the signature of the carrier, and
given to shipper as a receipt.

BILL OF SALE – A bill given by the seller to the buyer,
transferring the ownership of personal property.

BOARD OF TRADE – An association of business men for the regulation
of commercial interests.

BONA FIDE – Latin, in good faith.

BOND – An instrument under seal, by which a person binds himself,
his heirs or assigns, to do or not to do certain things.

BONDED GOODS – Goods stored in a bonded warehouse or in bonded
cars, the owner having given bonds securing payment of import
duties, or of other sums due the Government, upon their arrival
at some specified place at a specified time.

BONDED WAREHOUSE – Is a building in which goods are stored until
the duties or revenues on them are paid.

BONDSMAN – One who goes security for the faithful performance of a
contract.

BONUS – A premium for a loan or other privileges.

BROKER – An agent or middleman between the buyer and the seller.

BULLION – Uncoined gold or silver.

CHARTER – A written authority from the proper National or State
authority defining the rights and privileges of corporations.

CHARTER PARTY – A written contract for the hiring or chartering of
a ship.

CHATTEL – Any kind of property except real estate.

COLLATERAL – Pledges of stocks, notes, or chattels as security for
the payment of a loan.

COMMERCE – The business of exchanging commodities between different
places.

COMMISSION AGENT – One who does business on Commission.

COMMON LAW – The unwritten law, the law of Custom. It receives its
force from universal usage.

CONSIGNEE – The person to whom goods are sent to be sold on
commission.

CONSIGNOR – The one who consigns his goods to an agent.

CONTRA – Latin. On the opposite side.

COPARTNERSHIP – The joining of two or more persons into one firm
for the purpose of carrying on any business.

COUPON – An interest note or certificate, attached to a bond, which
is cut off for collection when interest is due.

CREDENTIALS – Testimonials of authority; proofs of good character,

DEMURRAGE – Money forfeited for detaining a vessel beyond the time
named in her Charter party.

DISHONOR – A failure to pay a note or other obligation when due. A
failure to accept a draft when presented for acceptance.

DOCKAGE – Charge for the use of a dock.

DOWER – The right of a widow to a one-third interest in all the
real estate owned by her husband at any time after their
marriage.

DRAFT – A written order for the payment of money at a fixed time.

DRAWEE - The person on whom a draft is drawn.
DURESS. Personal restraint of any kind.

EARNEST – Part of purchase money paid to bind a bargain.

EFFECTS – Goods, or property, of every kind.

EMBARGO – An order of the Government preventing ships from
departing or landing.

EQUITY – The principles of right and justice.

EQUITY OF REDEMPTION – The right allowed a mortgagor of a
reasonable time to redeem mortgaged realty.

EXECUTION - A writ authorizing an officer to carry into execution
the judgment of the Court.

FEE SIMPLE – A title to real estate held without conditions by a
person in his own right.

FORCED SALE – Sale made under compulsion.

FORWARDER – One who attends to the shipping and reshipping of
goods.

GROSS WEIGHT – Weight of goods, including case or wrapping.

GUARANTEE – A surety for the performance of a contract.

HONOR – To pay or accept a draft when due.

IMPORT – Duty paid on goods by importer.

INDEMNIFY – To recompense for loss or injury.

INDEMNITY – A guaranty against loss.

INDENTURE – A writing containing a contract.

INDORSE – To write one’s name on the back of a note, draft, or
other document.

INJUNCTION – A writ of Court, by which a party is restrained from
doing a certain act.

INLAND BILL – A draft between parties in the same country.

INSOLVENCY – Inability to pay debts, Bankruptcy.

INTESTATE – Dying without having made a will.

IN TRANSITU – In a state of going from one place to another. Latin.

INVENTORY – An itemized list of goods, or other property, with
their value as estimated at the time.

INVOICE BOOK – A book in which invoices are kept.

JETTISON – Goods thrown overboard to lighten a ship in time of
great danger.

JOBBER – One who buys from the producer to sell to the retailer.

JOB LOT – An irregular collection. Odds and ends unsold at the end
of the season.

JUDGMENT – The decision of a Court.

LEASE – A contract granting possession and use of property for a
specified time.

LEGACY – A bequest; a gift of property by will.
LESSEE – One to whom a lease is made.

LETTER OF CREDIT – An open letter authorizing the bearer to receive
money on the credit of the writer.

LICENSE – A legal permit to carry on a certain business.

LIEN – A legal claim on property, which must be settled before
property can be sold.

LIGHTER – A flat-bottom boat used in loading and unloading vessels
at anchor.

LIGHTERAGE – Charges for use of lighter.

MANIFEST – A list of articles comprising Ship Cargo.

MARGIN – Difference between buying and selling price.

MARINE - Pertaining to the sea.

MATURITY – The date when a commercial paper becomes due.

MERCANTILE AGENCY – A company that collects for the use of its
patrons information as to the standing of all business men in
the country.

MERCANTILE LAW – Law pertaining to business.

MORTGAGEE – The person in whose favor a mortgage is made.

MORTGAGOR – The person who gives a mortgage.

NEGOTIABLE – That which is transferable by delivery, assignment or
indorsement.

NET – Clear of all charges.

NET PROCEEDS – The remainder after deducting charges from sales.

NET WEIGHT – Weight after deducting all allowances.

NOMINAL – Existing in name only.

NOTARY PUBLIC – An officer authorized to administer oaths and take
acknowledgments.

OPEN ACCOUNT – An account unsettled..

OUTLAWED – A debt which has run beyond the time when the law will
enforce payment.

PAR VALUE – The expressed value of any commercial paper.

PAROL – Verbal, not written or sealed.

PAWN BROKER - One licensed to loan money on personal property.

PAYEE – The person to whom money is to be paid.

PAYER – The person who promises to pay.

PLANT – The entire establishment necessary to carry on a
manufacturing business.

POST DATE – To date after real time of writing.

POWER OF ATTORNEY -A written authority from a principal to
another, authorizing him to act in his stead.

PRICE CURRENT – A list of articles with market values.

PRIMAGE – A percentage allowed to the master of a vessel on the
amount of cargo carried.

PRIMA FACIE – On the first look or view.

PRO RATA – A proportional distribution. Latin.

PROTECTING A DRAFT – Accepting a draft to prevent its being
protested.

PROTEST – A formal declaration by a notary that a note was not paid
at maturity, or that any other monetary obligation was not met
when due.

RECEIVER – A person appointed by the Court to take charge of a firm
or corporation on its dissolution, and to distribute its
property according to law.

RESCIND – To revoke, countermand or annul.

RESOURCES – Every form of convertible asset.

REVOCATION – The recall authority conferred on another.

SALVAGE – The allowance made by law to persons who voluntarily
assist in saving a ship or her cargo from destruction.

SHIPPING CLERK – One who attends to shipping goods.

SILENT PARTNER – One who shares in the profits of a firm, though
his name does not appear, nor does he take an active part in its
affairs.

SINKING FUND – A sum of money set apart for the liquidation of
debts.

STOCK Capital invested in trade. Goods on hand.

CAPITAL STOCK – The capital of a corporation as shown by its
shares.

COMMON STOCK – That stock which entitles the owner to an equal
proportionate dividend of the corporate profits and assets, with
one shareholder or class of shareholders having no advantage or
preference over another.

PREFERRED STOCK – That stock which entitles the owner to dividends
out of the net profits before or in preference to the holder of
common stock.

WATERED STOCK – Stock which purports to represent, but does not
honestly represent, money paid into the treasury of a
corporation.

STOCK EXCHANGE – A place where brokers and others meet to buy and
sell stocks and bonds.

STOCKHOLDER – One who owns shares in a joint stock company or
corporation.

STOPPAGE IN TRANSIT – The right which the seller has to stop the
goods he has shipped any time before they reach the buyer.

SYNDICATE – A number of men who unite to conduct some commercial
enterprise.

TARE – An allowance made for the weight of boxes, barrels, etc., in
which goods are shipped.

TENANT – One who holds real estate under lease.

TENDER – An offer; a proposal for acceptance.

TICKLER – A book containing a memorandum of notes and other
obligations in the order of their maturity.

TIME DRAFT – A draft maturing at a fixed future date.

TRADE DISCOUNT – A discount or series of discounts from the prices
made to dealers, or because of a change in prices.

TRUSTEE – One who holds any business or property in trust.

UNDERWRITER – One who insures.

USURY – The taking of more than the legal interest.

VOUCHER – Papers and documents that prove the truth of accounts.

WAYBILL – A paper containing a list of goods shipped.

WHARFAGE – Money paid for use of a wharf.

WHARFINGER – One in charge of a wharf; the owner.

WHOLESALE – To sell goods in large quantities, in whole or unbroken
packages.

WRIT – An order issued from a Court to one of its officers; or to
one or more litigants where an injunction is issued.