escheat

 
Pronunciation: /ɪsˈtʃiːt, ɛs-/
chiefly historical

noun

[mass noun]
  • the reversion of property to the state, or (in feudal law) to a lord, on the owner’s dying without legal heirs: the Crown’s right of escheat was lost [count noun]: they totally abolished escheats
  • [count noun] an item of property affected by escheat.

verb

[no object]
  • (of land) revert to a lord or the state by escheat: a private chase which had escheated to the King
  • [with object] (usually as adjective escheated) hand over (land) as an escheat: a number of escheated royal honours

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French eschete, based on Latin excidere 'fall away', from ex- 'out of, from' + cadere 'to fall'