| Noun | 1. | bastardy proceeding - a lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined)case, causa, lawsuit, suit, cause - a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family brought suit against the landlord" jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" | |