squat †

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

occupy land without title to it; settle on public land without applying for legal title.

Quotations

1829

Squire Wright built his town on an island of this kind. Mrs. Firth squatted on one too, unknown to herself. . . .

1861

Throughout the Settlement Indians squat on settlers' lands and burn up their carefully-preserved firewood or their fencing, and complaint is useless.

1958

By 1873 . . . and J. L. Lockhart were squatting on mil-grant lands along False Creek.