Purpresture

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Purpresture \Pur*pres"ture\, n. [Probably corrupted (see
     {Prest}) fr. OF. pourprisure, fr. pourprendre: cf. LL.
     purprestura. Cf. {Purprise}.] (Law)
     Wrongful encroachment upon another's property; esp., any
     encroachment upon, or inclosure of, that which should be
     common or public, as highways, rivers, harbors, forts, etc.


     [Written also {pourpresture}.]
     [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  PURPRESTURE. According to Lord Coke, purpresture, is a close or enclosure, 
  that is, when one encroaches or makes several to himself that which ought to 
  be in common to many; as if an individual were to build between high and low 
  water-mark on the side of a public river. In England this is a nuisance; and 
  in cases of this kind an injunction will be granted, on ex parte affidavits, 
  to restrain such a purpresture and nuisance. 2 Bouv. Inst. n, 2382; 4 Id. n. 
  3798; 2 Inst. 28; and see Skene, verbo Pourpresture; Glanville, lib. 9, ch. 
  11, p. 239, note Spelm. Gloss. Purpresture Hale, de Port. Mar.; Harg. Law 
  Tracts, 84; 2 Anstr. 606; Cal. on Sew. 174 Redes. Tr. 117.