Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAL'LENGE, n. [Norm. calenge, an accusation; chalunge, a claim; challenger, to claim; from the root of call, Gr. καλεω, κελλω, L. calo. See Call. Literally, a calling, or crying out, the primary sense of many words expressing a demand, as claim, L. clamo. Hence appropriately,]

1. A calling upon one to fight in single combat; an invitation or summons, verbal or written, to decide a controversy a duel. Hence the letter containing the summons is also called a challenge.
2. A claim or demand made of a right or supposed right. There must be no challenge of superiority. – Collier.
3. Among hunters, the opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game. – Encyc.
4. In law, an exception to jurors; the claim of a party that certain jurors shall not sit in trial upon him or his cause; that is, a calling them off. The right of challenge is given both in civil and criminal trials, for certain causes which are supposed to disqualify a juror to be an impartial judge. The right of challenge extends either to the whole panel or array, or only to particular jurors, called a challenge to the polls. A principal challenge is that which the law allows without cause assigned. A challenge to the favor, is when the party alledges a special cause. In criminal cases, a prisoner may challenge twenty jurors, without assigning a cause. This is called a peremptory challenge. – Blackstone.