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lien

Pronunciation: /liːn, ˈliːən/

Definition of lien

noun

Law
  • a right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged: they shall be entitled to a lien on any lot sold make sure there are no liens against the car [as modifier]:they may assert a lien claim on your property

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French, via Old French loien from Latin ligamen 'bond', from ligare 'to bind'

lien in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of lien in the US English dictionary