jump a claim
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.50 in modern English
25
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To enter upon and take possession of land to which another has acquired a claim by prior entry and occupation.
Australian usage; American usage
Example Sentences
- "Anarchy still reigns in this new country;—not only have the miners to defend their persons and their acquisitions against the incursions from Indian tribes; not only are crimes and offences common (lynch law maintaining a permitted existence instead of laws and police); but every one appears to hold his property by right of first comer: a miner choses the spot he likes best; a strong arm and a carbine, with a steady eye, are his title deeds. To seize upon a rich "placer" from a miner too weak to resist, is called in the slang of the district, to "jump a claim." The President of the United States himself, stated in his last message, that "The mineral lands should remain free to every citizen;" and the Secretary of State has added, "that the right of occupancy should be submitted only to such laws as the miners themselves thought fit to make.""
Usage
- Australian usage
- American usage