Pur-prĕst'ūre, n.

n. [L. Lat. purprestura, porpristura, purprisura, O. Fr. pourprisure, from L. Lat. porprendere, proprendere, to take any thing without authority; to invade, O. Fr. pourprendre, to take away entirely, from pour, for, and prendre, pris, to take.] (Law.) Any encroachment upon, or inclosure of, that which should be common or public, as upon highways, rivers, harbors, forts, &c. [Written also pourpresture.] Eden. Daniell.