champerty
[cham-per-tee]
- a sharing in the proceeds of litigation by one who agrees with either the plaintiff or defendant to help promote it or carry it on.
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Origin of champerty
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for champertous
Historical Examples
It is unnecessary to inquire here whether such a contract is void as champertous, and contrary to public policy.
An Essay on Professional EthicsGeorge Sharswood
champerty
- law (formerly) an illegal bargain between a party to litigation and an outsider whereby the latter agrees to pay for the action and thereby share in any proceeds recoveredSee also maintenance
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Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French champartie, from Old French champart share of produce, from champ field + part share (a feudal lord's)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for champertous
adj.
1640s, from champart, from French champart "portion of produce received by a feudal lord from land held in lease from him" (13c.), from Old North French campart-, probably from Latin campi pars "part of the field" (see campus + part (n.)). In later use often with reference to champerty (early 14c.), the illegal act whereby a person makes a bargain to maintain a litigant in return for a share of the gains if the case succeeds.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper