Abatement

(a-bāte'ment.) (Law.) Overthrow, failure, or defeat, as of a writ.- The entry of a stranger into a freehold after the death of the tenant, before the heir or devisee.-A reduction made by the creditor, for the prompt payment of a debt due by the payee or debtor. The reduction sometimes made at the Customhouse for the duties chargeable upon goods when they are damaged.- A plea of abatement is pleaded to a declaration, writ, ., on account of some defeot in form. (Her.) A mark of dishonor in a coat of arms. The only A. now used in practice is the bast on, q. v. [s. 2]