Divisa

Devisa.

L. Lat. [from Fr. diviser, to divide.] In old English law. A division or partition. A division or distribution of goods by will; a will or testament of goods or chattels. Spelman, CoioelL Glanv. lib.

12, c. 20.

Id. lib.

7, c. 5.

Hence the modem devise, now confined to mean a will of 'lands or disposition of real estate by will. See Devise. A division or boundary between neighboring or adjoining lands, (L. Fr. devise, q. V.) such as a highway; a wall, ditch or stream; a stake or stone. Bract, fol.

180 b.

It might also be composed of the land itself, [fit divisa de consensu vicinorum, ex eorum terra,) in which case it was common to both proprietors, (et est talis divisa communis inter eos.) Id. ibid. Id. fol.

167.

The use of strips of unploughed land, as boundaries in open or common fields, still prevails in England.

Stat. 6 & 1 Will. IV. c. 115.

Dicitur divisa eo quod dividit agros et tenementa; it is called divisa be< cause it divides lands and tenements.

Bract. foL 180 b.

The word was more commonly used in the plural, {divisce, or devisee,) and very frequently in connexion with the terms metce, (metes,) and bundce, (bounds,) though not very clearly distinguished from either. Per metas et divisas.

Beg, Orig. 157 b.

Super bundis et divisis.

Id. 263 b.

Metce, bundce et devisee.

Beg. Jud. 84 b.

Bundce, et metce et rationabiles divisse, qu^ ponuntur in terminis agrorvm, ad distinguendum prcedia et dominia vicinorum; bounds and metes and reasonable divisions, which are placed in the limits of fields to distmguish the lands and properties of neighbors. Bract, fol.

166 b.

A sentence or decree. ComlL LL. Hen. I. c.

9, cited i Ud.