In English law . This is a penalty on a tenant holding over after his landlord’s notice to quit. By 4 Geo. II. c. 28. $1. it is enacted that if any tenant for life or years hold over any lands, etc., after thedetermination of his estate, after demand made, and notice in writing given, fordelivering the possession thereof, by the landlord, or the person having the reversion orremainder therein, or his agent thereunto lawfully authorized, such tenant so holdingover shall pay to the person so kept out of possession at the rate of double the yearlyvalue of the lands, etc., so detained, for so long a time as the same are detained. SeeWoodf. Landl. & Ten. (12th Ed.) 717, et seq.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
