(A) criminal law. The unlawful breaking into a house, in order to commit a crime. In cases of burglary, the least entry with the whole or any part of the body, hand, or foot, or with any instrument or weapon, introduced for the purpose of committing a felony, is sufficient to complete the offence. 3 Inst. 64. (B) estates, rights. The taking possession of lands by the legal owner. 2. A person having a right of possession may assert it by a peaceable entry, and being in possession may retain it, and plead that it is his soil and freehold; and this will not break in upon any rule of law respecting the mode of obtaining the possession of lands. When another person has taken possession of lands or tenements, and the owner peaceably makes an entry thereon, and declares that be thereby takes possession of the same, he shall, by this notorious act of ownership, which is equal to a feodal investiture, be restored to his original right. 3. A right of entry is not assignable at common law. Co. Litt. 214 a. As to the law on this subject in the United States, vide Buying of titles. 4. In another sense, entry signifies the going upon another man’s lands or his tenements. An entry in this sense may be justifiably made on another’s land or house, first, when the law confers an authority; and secondly, when the party has authority in fact. 5. First, 1. An officer may enter the close of one against whose person or property he is charged with the execution of a writ. In a civil case, the officer cannot open (even by unlatching) the outer inlet to a house, as a door or window opening into the street; although it has been closed for the purpose of excluding him. Cowp. 1. But in a criminal case, a constable may break open an outer door to arrest one within suspected of felony. If the outer door or window be open, he may enter through it to execute a civil writ; Palin. 52; 5 Rep. 91; and, having entered, he may, in every case, if necessary, break open an inner door. 1 Brownl. 50. 6. 2. The lord may enter to distrain, and go into the house for that purpose, the outer door being open. 5 Rep. 91. 7. 3. The proprietors of goods or chattels may enter the land of another upon which they are placed, and remove them, provided they are there without his default; as where his tree has blown down into the adjoining close by the wind, or his fruit has fallen from a branch which overhung it. 20 Vin. Abr. 418. 8. 4. If one man is bound to repair bridge, he has a right of entry given him by law for that purpose. Moore, 889. 9. 5. A creditor has a right to enter the close of his debtor to demand the duty owing, though it is not to be rendered there. Cro. Eliz. 876. 10. 6. If trees are excepted out of a demise, the lessor has the right of entering, to prune or fell them. 7. Every traveler has, by law, the privilege of entering a common inn, at all seasonable times, provided the host has sufficient accommodation, which, if he has not, it is for him to declare. 12.8. Ever man may throw down a public nuisance, and a private one may be thrown down by the party grieved, and this before an prejudice happens, but only from the probability that it may happen. To this end, the abator has authority to enter the close in which it stands. See Nuisance. 13. 9. An entry may be made on the land of another, to exercise or enjoy therein an incorporeal right or hereditament to which he is entitled. (C) commercial law. The act of setting down the particulars of a sale, or other transaction, in a merchant’s or tradesman’s account books; such entries are, in general, prima facie evidence of the sale and delivery, and of work, done; but unless the entry be the original one, it is not evidence. Vide Original entry.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
1. In real property law. Entry is the act of going peaceably upon a piece of land which is claimed as one’s own, but which is held by another person, with the intention and for the purpose of taking possession of the same. Entry is a remedy which the law affords to an injured party ousted of his lands by another person who has taken possession thereof without right. This remedy (which must in all cases be pursued peaceably) takes place in three only out of the five species of ouster, viz., abatement, intrusion, and disseisin; for, as in these three cases the original entry of the wrong doer is unlawful, so the wrong may be remedied by the mere entry of the former possessor. But it is otherwise upon a discontinuance or deforcement, for in these latter two cases the former possessor cannot remedy the wrong by entry, but must do so by action, inasmuch as the original entry being in these cases lawful, and therefore conferring an apparent right of possession, the law will not suffer such apparent right to be overthrown by the mere act or entry of the claimant. Brown. See Innerarity v. Mims, 1 Ala. 674; Moore v. Hodgdon, 18 N. H. 149; Riley v. People, 29 111. App. 139; Johnson v. Cobb, 21 S. C. 372, 7 S. E. 601. Forcible entry. See that title. Re entry. The resumption of the possession of leased premises by the landlord on the tenant’s failure to pay the stipulated rent or otherwise to keep the conditions of the lease. Open entry. An entry upon real estate, for the purpose of taking possession, which is not clandestine nor effected by secret artifice or stratagem, and (in some states by statute) one which is accomplished in the presence of two witnesses. Thompson v. Kenyon, 100 Mass. 108. 2. In criminal law. Entry is the un a crime therein. In cases of burglary, the least entry with the whole or any part of the body, hand, or foot, or with any instrument or weapon, introduced for the purpose of committing a felony, is sufficient to complete the offense. 3 Inst. 64. And see Walker v. State, 63 Ala. 49, 35 Am. Rep. 1; Com. v. Glover, 111 Mass. 402; Franco v. State, 42 Tex. 280; State v. McCall, 4 Ala. 644. 39 Am. Dec. 314; Pen. Code N. Y. 1903,