Define: Nichil

The term “nichil” in old English law refers to a debt owed to the Exchequer’s office that cannot be collected by sheriffs due to the debtor’s absence or inability to pay. Annually, an officer from the Clerk of Nichils would record these amounts and send them to the treasurer’s remembrancer’s office, where the process for their recovery would be initiated. The term is derived from the Latin word “nihil,” meaning “nothing.” For instance, the sheriff had to declare the debt as a nichil because the debtor had vanished and could not be located.

In old English law, the term “nichil” referred to a debt owed to the Exchequer’s office that sheriffs deemed uncollectible. It originated from the Latin word “nihil,” meaning “nothing.” For instance, if someone owed money to the Exchequer’s office but the sheriff was unable to locate them or they were unable to pay, the sheriff would declare the debt as worthless. This process was known as nichiling the debt. However, the term nichil is no longer used in modern English law, and the Clerk of Nichils and the treasurer’s remembrancer’s office were abolished in 1833.

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This glossary post was last updated: 16th April 2024.