Defendere.L

Lat. In old statutes. To appropriate to one's exclusive use; to fence in or enclose; to fence out or exclude others. Nullae ripariae defendantur de cetero nisi illa quae fuerunt in defenso tempore Henrici regis, &c.; no banks shall be defended from henceforth, but such as were in defence in the time of king Henry, &c. Magna Charta, c. 16. That is, no owner of the banks of rivers shall so appropriate or keep the rivers several to him, to defend or bar others either to have passage or fish there, &c. 2 Inst. 30. See Defensum.