obstruction

Defined in 4 dictionaries — Case Law, Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891)

Definitions from Case Law

From 362 U.S. 482 - United States v. Republic Steel Corp. · 1960Most cited · 597 citing opinions

It is not a prohibition of any obstruction to the navigation, but any obstruction to the navigable capacity, and anything, wherever done or however done, within the limits of the jurisdiction of the United States, which tends to destroy the navigable capacity of one of the navigable waters of the United States, is within the terms of the prohibition.

Show all 2 Supreme Court definitions and how they changed over time 1945–1960

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A blocking up; filling with obstacles or impediments; impeding, embarrassing or opposing one’s passage. See 81 Wis. 313, 29 Am. St. Rep. 898, 15 L. R. A. 553, 51 N. W. 560.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

This is the word properly descriptive of an injury to any one's incorporeal hereditament, e. g., his right to an casement, or profit d prendre; an alternative word being "disturbance." On the other hand, "infringement" is the word properly descriptive of an injury to any one's patent-rights or to his copyright. But "obstruction" is also a very general word in law, being applicable to every hindrance of a man in the discharge of his duty, (whether official, public, or private.) Brown.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

‘This is the word properly descriptive of an injury to any one’s incorporeal hereditament, e. g., his right to an easement, or profit a prendres an alternative word being “disturbance.” On the Other hand, “infringement.” is the word properly descriptive of an injury to any one’s patent-rights or to his copyright. But “obstruction” is also a very genera] word in law, being applicable to every hindrance of a man in the discharge of his duty, (whether official, public, or private.) Brown. Obtemperandum est consuetudini rationabili tanquam legi. 4 Coke, 38. A Teasonable custom is to be obeyed as a law.