term:

Traverse

traverse n

: a denial of a matter of fact alleged in the opposing party's pleadings
;also
: a pleading in which such a denial is made
[trə-vərs, tra-vərs] vt [Anglo-French traverser, literally, to lay across, bar, impede, from Old French, from Late Latin transversare to cross, from Latin transversus lying across]
: to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) in a legal proceeding

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.