writ of assistance

American  

noun

American History.

1. a writ issued by a superior colonial court authorizing officers of the British crown to summon aid and enter and search any premises.

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Etymology

Origin of writ of assistance

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

Klimczyk said Clippert is the one to decide how long he wants to work with the tenants before pursuing the writ of assistance.

From Washington Times • Oct. 12, 2020

If the tenants do not move voluntarily, the city can request a writ of assistance from the Rock County Courts to allow law enforcement to remove them from the property, Klimczyk said.

From Washington Times • Oct. 12, 2020

Wrote Justice Murphy: "The Court today has resurrected and approved, in effect, the use of the odious general warrant or writ of assistance."

From Time Magazine Archive

But the general search-warrant, or "writ of assistance," as it was called because men try to cover up the ugliness of hateful things by giving them innocent names, was quite a different affair.

From The War of Independence by Fiske, John

This writ of assistance, as it was called, was common in England, and was issued in the colonies about 1754.

From A Brief History of the United States by McMaster, John Bach