attornment Law.
(əˈtɜːnmənt)
Forms: see attorn v.
[a. OF. atournement, f. atourner: see attorn and -ment.]
1. A turning over; transference, assignment.
| 1650 C. Elderfield Tythes 251 The attournment or making them over to man to be received by him. |
2. spec. The transference of his homage and service by a tenant to a new feudal lord; hence, legal acknowledgement of the new landlord.
| 1531 Dial. Laws of Eng. i. xx. (1638) 35 The feoffee hath right..to the rents, if there be atturnements. 1602 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 10 No attournement can make an euill graunt to bee good. 1768 Blackstone Comm. ii. v. II. 72 The lord also could not alienate his seignory without the consent of his tenant, which consent of his was called an attornment. 1876 Digby Real Prop. v. §3. 227 The necessity for attornment was done away with by 4 Anne, c. 16. |