fiat
    n 1: a legally binding command or decision entered on the court
         record (as if issued by a court or judge); "a friend in New
         Mexico said that the order caused no trouble out there"
         [syn: decree, edict, fiat, order, rescript]

Fiat \Fi"at\, n. [L., let it be done, 3d pers. sing., subj.
   pres., fr. fieri, used as pass. of facere to make. Cf. Be.]
   1. An authoritative command or order to do something; an
      effectual decree.
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            His fiat laid the corner stone.       --Willis.
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   2. (Eng. Law)
      (a) A warrant of a judge for certain processes.
      (b) An authority for certain proceedings given by the Lord
          Chancellor's signature.
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   Fiat money, irredeemable paper currency, not resting on a
      specie basis, but deriving its purchasing power from the
      declaratory fiat of the government issuing it.
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FIAT, practice. An order of a judge, or of an officer, whose authority, to 
be signified by his signature, is necessary to authenticate the particular 
acts.