writ of assistance

American  

noun

American History.

1. a writ issued by a superior colonial court authorizing officers of the British crown to summon aid and enter and search any premises.

---

Etymology

Origin of writ of assistance

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

writ of assistance

If the tenants do not move voluntarily, the city can request a writ of assistance from the Rock County Courts to allow law enforcement to remove them from the property, Klimczyk said.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 12, 2020

Klimczyk said Clippert is the one to decide how long he wants to work with the tenants before pursuing the writ of assistance.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 12, 2020

Wrote Justice Murphy: "The Court today has resurrected and approved, in effect, the use of the odious general warrant or writ of assistance."

From Time Magazine Archive

A writ of assistance was a general search-warrant, empowering the officer armed with it to enter, by force if necessary, any dwelling-house or warehouse where contraband goods were supposed to be stored or hidden.

From The War of Independence by Fiske, John

The writ of assistance had been used in Massachusetts in 1755 to prevent illicit trade with Canada and had aroused a violent hostility at that time.

From History of the United States by Beard, Charles A. (Charles Austin)