Challenge (?), 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.
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A challenge to controversy. Goldsmith.
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2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign.
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3. A claim or demand. [Obs.]
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There must be no challenge of superiority. Collier.
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4. (Hunting) The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game.
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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
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6. An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U. S.]
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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.
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Challenge, v. i. To assert a right; to claim a place.
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Where nature doth with merit challenge. Shak.
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