right of search

American  

noun

International Law.

1. the privilege of a nation at war to search neutral ships on the high seas for contraband or other matter, carried in violation of neutrality, that may subject the ship to seizure.

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right of search British  

noun

1. the right of a belligerent to stop and search neutral merchant ships on the high seas in wartime

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Etymology

Origin of right of search

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Google uses the open-source encyclopedia to populate the Knowledge Graphs that appear to the right of search results.

From Slate • Feb. 15, 2019

A treaty is being negotiated with Great Britain with respect to the right of search of hovering vessels.

From Time Magazine Archive

The right of search to obtain seamen, and the claim of his Britannic Majesty to the perpetual allegiance of his subjects, whether naturalized in America or not.

From The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler

Their first charter was obtained in 1428; letters patent in 1447 granted an extension of the right of search over the whole county, but removed the “liberties” of the city of London.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various

In 1840 an agreement was made between the officers in command of the British and American squadrons respectively, sanctioning a reciprocal right of search on the coast of Africa.

From The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1 by Webster, Daniel