avowry

[uh-vou-ree]

noun, plural a·vow·ries. Law.

a plea by a defendant in an action of replevin who admits taking the distrained goods and shows just cause for the taking.

Origin of avowry

1300–50; Middle English avowrie < Old French avouerie, equivalent to avou(er) to avow + -erie -ry

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018