freeholder
Defined in 7 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850)
Definitions from Case Law
From 491 U.S. 95 - Quinn v. Millsap · 1989Most cited · 80 citing opinions
someone with a fee or similar estate in land, the court reasoned that in "public law" the phrase "board of freeholders" was equivalent to "board of commissioners." App.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The owner of a freehold estate. Such a man must have been anciently a freeman; and the gift to any man by his lord of an estate to him and his heirs made the tenant a freeman, if he had not been so before. See 1 Washb. Real Prop. 29, 45 et seq.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
The owner of a freehold ' estate. Such a man must have been anciently a freeman; and the gift to any man by his lord of an estate to him and his heirs made the tenant a freeman, if he had not been so before. See 1 Washb. R. P. 29, 45. One who owns land in fee or for life, or for some indeterminate period. The estate may be equitable or legal. State v. Ragland, 75 N. C. 13. Boards of freeholders exist in New Jersey. It is the designation of the governing board of a county.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A person who possesses a freehold estate. Shively v. Lankford, 174 Mo. 535, 74 S. W. 835; Wheldon v. Cornett, 4 Neb. (Unof.) 421. 94 N. W. 626; People v Scott, 8 Hun (N. Y.) 507.
Defined under Freehold in Black's Law Dictionary.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
A person who possesses a freehold estate.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
[L. Lat. liber tenens; L. Fr. frank tenant.^ He who possesses a freehold estate. A free tenant; one who holds freely, (qui libere tenet.) This was anciently the peculiar right of a freeman. Hence, where a man gave lands to his villein, " to hold freely to him and his heirs," it made him a freeman. Bract, fol. 24 b.