In old English law . A certain territory of wooded ground and fruitful pastures,privileged for wild beasts and fowls of forest, chase, and warren, to rest andabide in the safe protection of the prince for his princely delight and pleasure, having apeculiar court and oliicers. Manw. For. Laws, c. 1, no. 1; Termes de la Ley ; 1 Bl. Comm. 289.A royal hunting-ground which lost its peculiar character with the extinction of itscourts, or when the franchise passed into the hands of a subject. Spelman; Cowell.The word is also used to siguify a franchise or right, being the right of keeping, forthe purpose of hunting, the wild beasts and fowls of forest chase, park, and warren, ina territory or precinct of woody ground or pasture set apart for the purpose. 1 Steph. Comm. 605.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
