Protest
ordinarily, a solemn affirmation or declaration of opinion (frequently in writing), generally in opposition to some act or proposition; a solemn affirmation by which a person declares either that he entirely dissents from and disapproves of any act or proposition, or else only conditionally gives his assent or consent to an act or proposition, to which he might otherwise be considered to have assented unconditionally.
In commerce, a formal declaration by the holder of a bill of exchange or promissory note, or by a notary public at his direction, that acceptance or payment of such bill or note has been refused, and that the holder intends to recover all expenses to which he may be put in consequence of such non-acceptance or non-payment.
In marine insurance, a declaration made on oath by the captain of a vessel which has met with any disaster at sea, or has been compelled to run into a foreign or intermediate port for safety. PROTESTANT The protest should be made as soon as he enters the port, the limit usually assigned being within 24 hours of his arrival.
The word is also applied to a declaration made by a party before or while paying a tax, duty, or the like demanded of him which he deems illegal, denying the justice of the demand, and asserting his own rights and claims in order to show that the payment was not voluntary.