subhastation

plural subhastations

1. countableobsoleteuncountableA public sale or auction required by law, especially one in Germany or neighbouring territories.

   One of the best parts of their Law is the way of Selling Estates, which is likewise practised in Switzerland, and is called Subhastation, from the Roman Custom of selling Sub hasta.

   [1713, Gilbert Burnet, A Description of Geneva

   3 more examples

   In the class of privileges [of clergy] belongs the benefit of competence, in consequence of which, in matters of debts and subhastation, the clerical person must be left the means of living according to his station.

   1879, John McClintock, James Strong, “Privilege”, in Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, volume 8

   The evils of credit also press heavily on those ignorant peasants who fall into the hands of usurers and land sharks. By giving credit ad infinitum and exacting unusually high interest on their loans, and other sharp and shrewd manipulations, these vampires very frequently, after having sucked the very life-blood out of their poor victims, put their feet upon their necks, and by subhastation drive them from their home.

   1884 June, Wolfgang Schoenle, “Credit and Trade Systems in Germany”, in United States consular reports: Reports from the consuls of the United States on the commerce, manufactures, etc., of their consular districts, number 42, page 245

   If the debtor fails to meet his obligations to his mortgage creditors, then the latter can have the immovable estate of the debtor under mortgage sold through the court at public auction (by subhastation).

   1889, Frederick Raine, “Mortgages in Foreign Countries”, in US House of Representatives Reports from the Consuls of the United States, volume 31, pages 455-456