prize

The Sailor's Word-Book

A vessel captured at sea from the enemies of a state, or from pirates, either by a man-of-war or privateer. Vessels are also looked upon as prize, if they fight under any other standard than that of the state from which they have their commission, if they have no charter-party, and if loaded with effects belonging to the enemy, or with contraband goods. In ships of war, the prizes are to be divided among the officers, seamen, &c., according to the act; but in privateers, according to the agreement between the owners. By statute 13 Geo. II. c. 4, judges and officers failing in their duty in respect to the condemnation of prizes, forfeit £500, with full costs of suit, one moiety to the crown, and the other to the informer. Prize, according to jurists, is altogether a creature of the crown; and no man can have any interest but what he takes as the mere gift of the crown. Partial interest has been granted away at different times, but the statute of Queen Anne (A.D. 1708) is the first which gave to the captors the whole of the benefit.

Related Words

  • Prize

    ·noun Estimation; valuation. II. Prize ·noun A contest for a reward; competition. III. Prize ·noun...

    Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

  • prize-acts

    Though expiring with each war, are usually revived nearly in the same form. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • prize-court

    A department of the admiralty court; (oyer et terminer) to hear and determine according to the law o...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • prize-goods

    Those taken upon the high seas, jure belli, from the enemy. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • prize-list

    A return of all the persons on board, whether belonging to the ship, or supernumeraries, at the time...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • prize-master

    The officer to whom a prize is given in charge to carry her into port. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • prize-money

    The profits arising from the sale of prizes. It was divided equally by chart. 5 Hen. IV. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • scotch prize

    A mistake; worse than no prize, or one liable to hamper the captors with heavy law expenses. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • prize act of 1793

    Ordained that the officers and sailors on board every ship and vessel of war shall have the sole pro...

    The Sailor's Word-Book