Deforcement is where a man wrongfully holds lands to which another person is entitled. It therefore includes disseisin, abatement discontinuance, and intrusion. Co. Litt 277b, 331b; Foxworth v. White, 5 Strob. (S. C.) 115; Woodruff v. Brown, 17 N. J. Law, 269; Hopper v. Hopper, 21 N. J. Law, 543. But it is applied especially to cases, not falling under those heads, where the person entitled to the freehold has never had possession; thus, where a lord has a selgnory, and lands escheat to him propter defectum sanguinis but the seisin is withheld from him, this is a deforcement and the person who withholds the seisin is called a “deforceor.” 3 Bl. Comm. 172.
In Scotch law. The opposition or resistance made to messengers or other public of fleers while they are actually engaged in the exercise of their offices. Ersk. Inst 4, 4, 32.