Hypertext Webster Gateway: "arson"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Arson \Ar"son\ ([aum]r"s'n; 277), n. [OF. arson, arsun, fr. L.
ardere, arsum, to burn.] (Law)
The malicious burning of a dwelling house or outhouse of
another man, which by the common law is felony; the malicious
and voluntary firing of a building or ship. --Wharton.
Note: The definition of this crime is varied by statues in
different countries and states. The English law of
arson has been considerably modified in the United
States; in some of the States it has been materially
enlarged, while in others, various degrees of arson
have been established, with corresponding punishment.
--Burrill.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
arson
n : malicious burning to destroy property; "the British term for
arson is fire-raising" [syn: {incendiarism}, {fire-raising}]
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