Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Occupancy

Oc′cu-pan-cy

,
Noun.
[See
Occupant
.]
1.
The act of taking or holding possession, especially of real property or rental property; possession; occupation.
Title by occupancy
(Law)
,
a right of property acquired by taking the first possession of a thing, or possession of a thing which belonged to nobody, and appropriating it.
Blackstone. Kent.

Webster 1828 Edition


Occupancy

OC'CUPANCY

,
Noun.
[L. occupo, to take or seize; ob and capio, to seize.]
1.
The act of taking possession.
2.
In law, the taking possession of a thing not belonging to any person. the person who first takes possession of land is said to have or hold it by right of occupancy.
Occupancy gave the original right to the property in the substance of the earth itself.