‖ ˈutrum Obs. or Hist.
[L. utrum, neut. sing. of uter which, whether.]
A writ authorizing the holding of an assize to decide the status of a property (see quot. 1728) Usu. in assize of utrum.
| c 1290 Britton (1865) II. 206 La quarte assise est de Utrum. Ibid. 207 Le bref de Utrum pur le clerc. |
| 1592 Rastell Law Terms, Vtrum is a writ and it lyeth when the right of any Church is aliened and holden in lay fee. 1728 Chambers Cycl. [following Cowell s.v. Assise de utrum], Assize of Utrum, lies for a Parson against a Layman, or a Layman against a Parson, for Land or Tenement, doubtful whether it be in Lay-fee, or Free-alms. 1865 Nichols Britton II. 207 margin, Utrum, the parson's writ of right. Ibid. 208 margin, No assize of Utrum for land belonging to cathedral or convent. 1881 Twiss Bracton (Rolls) IV. 622 [Assise] of Utrum may not be brought by a vicar for a small pension paid to a religious house. Ibid., Assise of utrum can never be taken upon a previous assise of utrum. |