Nix v. Hedden
Citation
149 U.S. 304 (1893)
Facts
Stub — to be completed.
Issue
Stub — to be completed.
Holding
Stub — to be completed.
Rule
Statutory terms are interpreted according to their common (popular) meaning rather than their scientific or technical meaning unless the context indicates otherwise; a tomato is a “vegetable” under the Tariff Act despite being botanically a fruit because it is commonly understood as a vegetable.
Significance
Classic statutory interpretation case illustrating common-meaning versus technical-meaning distinction; courts look to ordinary usage when a statute does not define its terms.