champerty

[ cham-per-tee ]

noun

, Law.

1. 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.

champerty

/ ˈtʃæmpətɪ /

noun

1. 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 recovered See also maintenance

Derived Forms

• ˈchampertous, adjective

Other Words From

• champer·tous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of champerty¹

1300–50; Middle English champartie, equivalent to champart (< Middle French: share of the produce, literally, of the field, equivalent to champ field ( camp ¹ ) + part share, part ) + -ie -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of champerty¹

C14: from Anglo-French champartie, from Old French champart share of produce, from champ field + part share (a feudal lord's)

Example Sentences

In England, contingent fees are held to be clearly within the statutes of champerty and maintenance.

From Project Gutenberg