'Legal tender' definitions:

Definition of 'legal tender'

noun

Something that can be used as an official medium of payment [syn: tender, legal tender, stamp]

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
A free, unlimited tender of the gospel. --South. [1913 Webster]
3. The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of an obligation. --Shak. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
2. (Theol.) (a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. (b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses. [1913 Webster]
3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. --Bouvier. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]
Legal cap. See under Cap.
Legal tender. (a) 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. (b) 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. [1913 Webster]