4. (Law) The entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee. Blackstone.
Defense in abatement, Plea in abatement, (Law), plea to the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer, want of jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated.
A*bat"er (-r), n. One who, or that which, abates.
{ Ab"a*tis, Aba"t*tis, } (b"*ts; French `b`t") n. [F. abatis, abattis, mass of things beaten or cut down, fr. abattre. See Abate.] (Fort.) A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.
Ab"a*tised (b"*tst), a. Provided with an abatis.
A*ba"tor (*bt"r), n. (Law) (a) One who abates a nuisance. (b) A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee. Blackstone.
||A`bat`toir" (`bt`twär"), n.; pl. Abattoirs (- twärz"). [F., fr. abattre to beat down. See Abate.] A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.
Ab"a*ture (b"*tr; 135), n. [F. abatture, fr. abattre. See Abate.] Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled down by a stag passing through them. Crabb.
||A`bat`voix" (`b`vwä"), n. [F. abattre to beat down + voix voice.] The sounding- board over a pulpit or rostrum.
Ab*awed" (b*d"), p. p. [Perh. p. p. of a verb fr. OF. abaubir to frighten, disconcert, fr. L. ad + balbus stammering.] Astonished; abashed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
{ Ab*ax"i*al (b*ks"*al), Ab*ax"ile (b*ks"l),} a. [L. ab + axis axle.] (Bot.) Away from the axis or central line; eccentric. Balfour.
A*bay" (*b"), n. [OF. abay barking.] Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See Bay. [Obs.]
Abb (b), n. [AS. web, b; pref. a- + web. See Web.] Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence, abb wool is wool for the abb.
Ab"ba (b"b), n. [Syriac abb father. See Abbot.] Father; religious superior; -- in the Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the bishops to the patriarch.
Ab"ba*cy (b"b*s), n.; pl. Abbacies (-sz). [L. abbatia, fr. abbas, abbatis, abbot. See Abbey.] The dignity, estate, or jurisdiction of an abbot.
Ab*ba"tial (b*b"shal), a. [LL. abbatialis : cf. F. abbatial.] Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights.