escheat — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The return, conversion, or vesting of property of a deceased person or closed business to the government (originally to a feudal lord) where there are no legal heirs or claimants. It is known as bona vacantia in the United Kingdom.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. The property so reverted.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. Plunder, booty.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Approching, with bold words and bitter threat, / Bad that same boaster, as he mote, on high / To leaue to him that Lady for excheat, / Or bide him battell without further treat.

4. That which falls to one; a reversion or return.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   And by my ruines thinkes to make them great: / To make one great by others losse, is bad excheat

Verb

1. To put (land, property) in escheat; to confiscate.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Arms are very rigidly controlled in Scotland by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. […] Under an Act of 1592, Lyon King of Arms can escheat to the Sovereign all goods unlawfully displaying arms.

   Failure to perform duties opened the culprit to charges of ‘felony’ (felonia), providing grounds for the king to escheat the fief.

2. To revert, convert, or vest ownership to the government or lord because its previous owner died without an heir or a business closed and no one claims the assets.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

Noun

1. a reversion to the state (as the ultimate owner of property) in the absence of legal heirs

   Broader terms

   reversion

2. the property that reverts to the state

   Broader terms

   transferred propertytransferred possession