What is "legal tender"

Legal \Le"gal\ (l[=e]"gal), a. [L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law; prob. orig., that which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. l['e]gal. Cf. Lie to be prostrate, Loyal, Leal.]

1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not forbid.

2. (Theol.)

   1. According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation.

   2. According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses.

3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. --Bouvier. --Burrill. Legal cap. See under Cap. Legal tender.

   1. The act of tendering in the performance of a contract or satisfaction of a claim that which the law prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as the law prescribes or permits.

   2. That currency, or money, which the law authorizes a debtor to tender and requires a creditor to receive. It differs in different countries.

      Syn: Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized. See Lawful.

Tender \Ten"der\, n.

1. (Law) An offer, either of money to pay a debt, or of service to be performed, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture, which would be incurred by nonpayment or nonperformance; as, the tender of rent due, or of the amount of a note, with interest.

   Note: To constitute a legal tender, such money must be offered as the law prescribes. So also the tender must be at the time and place where the rent or debt ought to be paid, and it must be to the full amount due.

2. Any offer or proposal made for acceptance; as, a tender of a loan, of service, or of friendship; a tender of a bid for a contract.

   A free, unlimited tender of the gospel.
   --South.

3. The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of an obligation.
   --Shak.

   Legal tender. See under Legal.

   Tender of issue (Law), a form of words in a pleading, by which a party offers to refer the question raised upon it to the appropriate mode of decision.
   --Burrill.

n. (context legal English) Any form of currency that by law cannot be refused as payment to extinguish a debt equal to the amount offered.

n. something used as an official medium of payment [syn: tender]

Legal tender is a form of currency

Legal Tender may refer to:

• Legal Tender, novel in the Rosato & Associates series
• Legal Tender (song)

"Legal Tender" is the first single released by The B-52's from their 1983 album Whammy!. The single was their third Billboard Hot 100 chart entry, at #81. The song also peaked at #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with album tracks " Whammy Kiss" and " Song for a Future Generation". The song was also an air-play and club hit in Brazil in 1984, and was performed during the band's set at the 1985 Rock in Rio music festival. When the band toured Brazil in 2009, they didn't include the song in their set, causing fans to chant for the band to play it. Because of the popularity of this song in Brazil, it appeared on the Brazilian version of Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation, where it replaced 52 Girls. This was the only version of this compilation it appeared on, although it was soon included on the Nude On The Moon compilation some years later.

Musically, "Legal Tender" is an upbeat synthesizer-fuelled track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. The opening track on the band's third record, Whammy!, it was a sign that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for this album. The band's heavy use of synthesizers on these tracks was indicative of a new wave trend at that time with The Human League, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and many others also making use of modern synthesizer machines. "Legal Tender" was performed live in the set of the Whammy! tour, with Keith Strickland on synthesizer and with horn parts added.

Lyrically, "Legal Tender" is an adventure in the counterfeiting of American dollars. The lyrics describe outfitting a basement with "heavy equipment", and learning to print bills because of rising prices. A music video was made to accompany "Legal Tender" for promotion on television, featuring many different coloured and shaped wigs (which were habitually worn by Wilson and Pierson in the band's early years).