Arrestment
/əˈrɛstmənt/noun
A legal seizure or attachment of property, especially in Scots law.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a French root meaning “to stop,” and its legal sense preserved the ancient idea that power can literally “hold” something in place.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
restāre
“to stand back, remain, be left over”
Old French
Old French
arester
“to stop, halt, bring to a standstill”
Middle English
English
arresten
“to stop or seize legally”
14th Century
Scots Law
arrestment
“a legal attachment or seizure, especially of goods or debts”
Modern English
English
arrestment
“legal seizure or attachment of property, chiefly in Scots law”