CHAUD-MEDLEY, in law, is of much the same import with CHANCE-MEDLEY. The former in its etymology signifies an affray in the heat of blood or passion; the latter, a casual affray. The latter is in common speech too often erroneously applied to any manner of homicide by misadventure; whereas it appears by the stat. 24 Hen. VIII. c. 5. and ancient books (Staundf. P. C. 16.) that it is properly applied to such killing as happens in self-defence, upon sudden encounter.