bastardy

[Eng. bastard; -y. In Sp. & Port. bastard i a; Ital. bastardigia.] A. Ord. Lang. The state or condition of a bastard. "There, at your meetest advantage of the the time, Infer the bastardy of Edward's children." Shakesp.: Richard III ., iii. 5. B. Scots Law: 1. Declaration of Bastardy: An action raised in the Court of Se ion to obtain a declaration that the plaintiff who has received from the Crown "a gift of bastardy" [see 2] is lawfully entitled to enter on po e ion of the lands or other property bestowed. 2. Gift of Bastardy : A gift from the Crown to some one of the heritable or movable effects of a bastard who has died without lawful i ue. Before the donatory can enter upon po e ion he must obtain a "declaration of bastardy" [see 1].