purpresture

[ per-pres-cher ]

noun

, Law.

1. the wrongful enclosure of or intrusion upon lands, waters, or other property rightfully belonging to the public at large.

Word History and Origins

Origin of purpresture¹

1150–1200; Middle English < Old French pourpres ( t ) ure, porpresure enclosure, occupied space, equivalent to pourprise, porprise (past participle of purprendre to seize upon, encroach upon, enclose, equivalent to pur- por- pro- ¹ + prendre to take < Latin prehendere; prehension ) + -ure -ure