ATTORNMENT n.
he act of a feudatory, vassal, or tenant, by which he consents, upon the alienation of an estate, to receive a new lord or superior, and transfers to him his homage and service; the agreement of a tenant to acknowledge the purchaser of the estate as his landlord. Burrill. Blackstone.
BASE a.
Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant. Base fee, formerly, an estate held at the will of the lord; now, a qualified fee. See note under Fee, n., 4. -- Base metal. See under Metal.…
BIRTHRIGHT n.
Any right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution; esp. the rights or inheritance of the first born. Lest there be any . . . profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Heb.…
BROKER n.
rocuring insurance on vessels, or against fire. -- Pawn broker. See Pawnbroker. -- Real estate broker, one who buys and sells lands, and negotiates loans, etc., upon mortgage. -- Ship broker, one who acts as agent in buying and selling ships, procuring freight, etc. -- Stock broker. See Stockbroker.…