. (Law) A statute fixing the compensation that a workman may recover from an employer in case of accident, esp. the British act of 6 Edw. VII. c. 58 (1906) giving to a workman, except in certain cases of “serious and willful misconduct, ” a right against his employer to a certain compensation on the mere occurrence of an accident where the common law gives the right only for negligence of the employer. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]