PUERILITY¹, civil law. This commenced at the age of seven years, the end of the age of infancy², and lasted till the age of puberty, (q. v.) that is, in females till the accomplishment³ of twelve years, and in males, till the age of fourteen years fully⁴ accomplished⁵. Ayl. Pand. 63.

2. The ancient Roman lawyers divided puerility into proximus infantiae, as it approached infancy, and into proximus pubertati, as it became nearer to puberty. 6 Toullier, n. 100.

PUFFER, commerce, contracts. A person employed by the owner of property which is sold at auction⁶ to bid it up, who does so accordingly, for the purpose of raising the price upon bona fide bidders⁷.

2. This is a fraud which at the choice of the purchaser invalidates the sale. 5 Madd. R. 37, 440; 3 Madd. R. 112; 12 Ves. 483; l Fonb. Eq. 227, n; 2 Kent, Com. 423; 11 Serg. & Rawle, 86; Cowp. 395; 3 Ves. jun. 628; 6 T. R. 642; 2 Bro. C. C. 326; 3 T. R. 93, 95; 1 P. A. Browne, Rep. 346; 2 Hayw. R. 328; Sugd. Vend⁸. 16; 4 Harr. & McH. 282; 2 Dev. 126; 2 Const. Rep. 821;. 3 Marsh⁹. 526.

PUIS DARREIN CONTINUANCE, pleading. These old French words signify since the last continuance.

2. Formerly¹⁰ there were formal adjournments or continuances of the proceedings¹² in a suit, for certain purposes, from one term to another; and during the interval¹³ the parties were of course out of court. When any matter arose which was a ground of defence, since the last continuance, the defendant¹⁴ was allowed to plead it, which allowance was an exception to the general rule that the defendant can plead but one plea of one kind or class.

3. By the modern practice the parties are, from the day when, by the ancient practice, a continuance would have been entered, supposed to be out of court, and the pleading is suspended till the day arrives to which, by the ancient practice, the continuance would extend; at that day, the defendant is en-titled, if any new matter of defence has arisen in the interval, to plead it, according to the ancient plan puis darrein continuance, before the next continuance.

4. Pleas of this kind may be either in abatement¹⁵ or in bar; and may be pleaded, even after an issue joined, either in fact or in law, if the new matter has arisen after the issue was joined, and is pleaded before the next adjournment¹¹. Gould on Pl. c. 6, 123-126; Steph. Pl. 81, 398; Lawes on Pl. 173; 1 Chit. Pl. 637; 5 Peters , Rep. 232; 3 Bl. Com. 316; Arch. Civ, Pl. 353; Bac. Ab. Pleas, Q; 4 Mass. 659; 4 S. & R. 238; 1 Bailey, 369; 4 Verm. 545; 11 John. 4; 24; 1 S. & R. 310; 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3014-18.