The word "sasine" is a Scottish legal term that refers to the act of granting possession of land or property. It is pronounced /səˈsɪn/ (suh-sin) with the stress on the second syllable. The spelling of this word may be confusing to those unfamiliar with Scottish terminology, but it can be broken down phonetically as follows: the first syllable is pronounced as a schwa sound /ə/, followed by the "s" sound /s/ and the short "i" sound /ɪ/. The final syllable is pronounced as a long "i" sound /aɪ/ followed by the "n" sound /n/.
Sasine is a legal term that refers to the act of granting possession or transferring ownership of land or property in Scottish law. It is a form of registration that provides evidence of lawful entry and occupation of land or property. The term derives from the Old French word "seisin," which means possession.
In Scottish legal context, sasine involves physical delivery of possession of land or property from one party, such as a seller or grantor, to another, the buyer or grantee. It is a symbolic act accompanied by a ceremony where the buyer receives a symbolic object, called "symbols of sasine," which represents the conveyance of ownership rights. Although symbolic, it has legal significance as it creates a right on the part of the new owner to occupy, possess, and use the property.
Sasine is an important step in the process of transferring ownership and establishing legal title to land or property in Scotland. It serves as proof of ownership and can be recorded in the Registers of Scotland, providing public notice of the change in ownership. This registration also ensures that subsequent interested parties, such as lenders or potential buyers, can verify the lawful ownership and any encumbrances associated with the property.
Overall, sasine is a legal mechanism in Scots law that signifies the transfer of ownership rights to land or property. It combines symbolic elements with registration to establish and provide evidence of lawful possession and conveyance of property interests.
In Scotch law, the act of giving legal possession of feudal property, or the written document by which that fact is proved; seisin.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The term "sasine" has its origins in the Scots language and Scottish legal system. It ultimately derived from the Old French word "sessine" (also spelled "seisin" in English), meaning "possession".
In medieval Scotland, the granting of feudal land involved handing over physical possession of the land to the new owner. This act of giving "seisin" was essential for validating the transfer of property rights. Over time, the term "seisin" evolved into "sasine" in Scots.
Today, the term "sasine" is primarily used in Scottish legal contexts, particularly in property law and conveyancing, to refer to the process of transferring ownership of land or property.