escheat

hist. n. 1 reversion of property to the state etc. In the absence of legal heirs. 2 property so affected. v. 1 hand over (property) as an escheat. 2 confiscate. 3 revert by escheat. [latin cado fall]

n. The falling back or reversion of lands, by some casualty or accident, to the lord of the fee, in consequence of the extinction of the blood of the tenant, which may happen by his dying without heirs, and formerly might happen by corruption of blood, that is, by reason of a felony or attainder.