Arson - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition arson

Definition :

Arson [fr. ardeo, Lat., to burn], the malicious firing of a house or other building. The law upon this subject is to be found in the (English) Malicious Damage Act, 1861, ss. 1-8. As to maliciously setting fire to ships, see ss. 42-44; to crops, etc., ss. 16-18; to coalmines, s. 26.

Means, at common law, the malicious burning of someone else's dwelling house or outhouse that is either appurtenant to the dwelling house or within the curtilage, Black Law Dictionary 7th Edn., p. 106.