N.Y. General Associations Law § 2

§ 2. Definitions. As used in this chapter: 1. The term "joint stock\nassociation" includes every unincorporated joint stock association,\ncompany or enterprise having written articles of association and capital\nstock divided into shares, but does not include a corporation or a\nbusiness trust.\n 2. The term "business trust" means any association operating a\nbusiness under a written instrument or declaration of trust, the\nbeneficial interest under which is divided into shares represented by\ncertificates.\n 3. The term "stockholder" means every member of a joint stock\nassociation.\n 4. The term "association," as used in article four of this chapter,\nmeans a joint stock association or a business trust as defined in this\nsection.\n