Year, day and waste [annus, dies et vastum, Lat.], a part of the royal prerogative, whereby the Crown had for a year and a day the profits of land and tenements of those attainted of petit treason or felony, whosoever was lord of the manor whereto the lands or tenements belonged; and the right to cause waste to be made on the tenements by destroying the houses, ploughing up the meadows and pastures, rooting up the woods, etc. (unless the lord of the fee agreed for the redemption of such waste), afterwards restoring them to the lord of the fee. Staund. Pr'rog. 44. This prerogative was abolished by 54 Geo. 3, c. 145.
View Judgments Citing this Phrase