Black's Law Dictionary (2nd edition)dictionaries

Self-Defense

NSE. In criminal law^ The protection of one’s person or property aga hist some injury attempted by another. The right of such protection. An excuse for the •use of force in resisting an attack on tft’e person, and* especially for hilling an assail-ant. See whart Crim. Law, §§ 1019, 1026

Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)