Es-tŏp’, v. t.

[imp. & p. p. ESTOPPED (es-tŏpt’); p. pr. & vb. n. ESTOPPING.] [O. Fr. estoper, estoupper, N. Fr. étouper, to cork, close, O. Sp. estopar, It. stoppare, L. Lat. stuppare, stopare, to close with tow, obstruct, estoppare, to hinder, from Lat. stuppa, stuppa, the coarse part of flax, tow, oakum. Cf. STOP.] (Law.) To impede or bar; to stop the progress of. “Estopping a river.” Burvill. A man shall always be estopped by his own deed, or not permitted to aver or prove any thing in contradiction to what he has once solemnly avowed. Blackstone.