writ of assistance

English - English

Definition of writ of assistance in English English dictionary

a court order that authorized customs officers to conduct general searches of premises for contraband; a form of search warrant

instruction by a court that is intended to facilitate the enforcement of a ruling

General search warrant used by the British in the American colonies. The warrants authorized customhouse officers, with the assistance of a sheriff, to search any house or ship for smuggled goods, without requiring them to specify the place or the goods. The legality of the writs was challenged by the colonists in the 1760s, and they became a major grievance in the years leading up to the American Revolution. See also James Otis

Hyphenation

writ of as·sis·tance

Turkish pronunciation

rît ıv ısîstıns

Pronunciation

/ˈrət əv əˈsəstəns/ /ˈrɪt əv əˈsɪstəns/