low-water mark
Defined in 7 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Abbott (1879)
Definitions from Case Law
From 289 U.S. 593 - State of Vermont v. State of New Hampshire · 1933Most cited · 37 citing opinions
The line drawn at the point to which the river recedes at its lowest stage without reference to extreme droughts.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
That part of the shore of the sea to which the waters recede when the tide is lowest. 125 111. 26. Where the water usually stands when free from disturbing causes. 94 Wis. 642. The ordinary low-water mark, independent Of spring or neap tides on the ocean, or of drought or freshet in respect to rivers. 60 Pa. St. 343. See "High-Water Mark."
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
That part of the shore of the sea to which the waters recede when the tide is lowest; i. e. the line to which the ebb-tide usually recedes, or the ordinary low-water mark unaffected by drought. Gerrish v. Proprietors of Union Wharf, 26 Me. 384, 46 Am. Dec. 568; Stover V. Jack, 60 Pa. 339, 100 Am. Dec. 566. It has been said to be the point to which a river recedes at its low'cst stage; Paine Lumber Co. V. U. S., 55 Fed. 854. See Tappan v. Water Power Co., 157 Mass. 24, 31 N. E. 703, 16
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
That Nne on the shore of the sea which marks the edge of the waters at the lowest point of the ore dinary ebb tide. See 60 Pa. St. 339; 26 Me. add.
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
That line, upon the shore of any tidal ■waters, to which the water recedes at the ebb of the tide. For most purposes, the line ordinarily marked is taken, disregarding extreme recessions, such as occur only occasionally and tinder concitrrence of unusual causes. In Pennsylvania, this term, used as the limit of a riparian owner's title, means ordinary low-water mark, unaffected by drought. Stover v. Jack, 60 Pa. St. 339. A boundary of lands upon " low-water mark " should be construed as meaning the line to which the tide, at its ebb, usually recedes, and not as carrying title to the extremest line to which the water ever recedes. That place to which the tide might ebb under an extraordinary combination of influences, a few times during a generation, could not form such a known boundary as would enable the owners of flats to ascertain satisfactorily the extent to w Meh he could build upon them. High and low water marks, when referred to as boundaries, in descriptions, should be ascertained by the s.ame rule; viz., the place to which the water ordinarily ascends or re-