estoppel

[e-stop-uh l]

noun Law.

a bar or impediment preventing a party from asserting a fact or a claim inconsistent with a position that party previously took, either by conduct or words, especially where a representation has been relied or acted upon by others.

Origin of estoppel

First recorded in 1575–85, estoppel is from the Middle French word estoupail stopper. See estop, -al²

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

Examples from the Web for estoppel

Historical Examples of estoppel

The doctrine of estoppel "cutting no figure" with the Baxter contingent.
Shadow and Light
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
History now pleads them as an estoppel against his followers.
Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2)
Thomas Hart Benton
Peter stood in the sunshine, looking at the estoppel clause, his lips agape.
Birthright
T.S. Stribling
If A trades in his own name, a person dealing with him cannot claim that A is a corporation by estoppel.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 3
Various
To create a corporation by estoppel, there must be an organization assuming to act as a corporation.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for estoppel

estoppel

noun

law a rule of evidence whereby a person is precluded from denying the truth of a statement of facts he has previously assertedSee also conclusion

Word Origin for estoppel

C16: from Old French estoupail plug, from estoper to stop up; see estop

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for estoppel

1530s, from Old French estopail, literally "bung, cork," from estoper (see estop).