A Lien Is a Legal Claim That Binds
A lien is a right to keep property until a debt is paid. The Latin root means a tie.
A lien is a legal right to hold another person's property until a debt is settled. Latin *ligamen* meant a bond or tie, from *ligare*, to bind — the same root as *ligament*, *oblige*, *religion* and *rely*. A lien binds property to a debt without transferring ownership. A mechanic who repairs a car and keeps it until paid is exercising a lien, which is among the oldest forms of security in law.
- A legal claim. *A lien on the property.*
- A right to retain. *A mechanic's lien.*
- Ligament — the same root. *A ligament.*
- Oblige — to bind towards. *Oblige.*
- Latin — *ligare*, to bind. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | lien | A lien. |
| Plural | liens | Liens. |
| Related | ligament | A ligament. |
| Related | oblige | To oblige. |
| Latin | ligare | To bind. |
- The bank holds a lien.Law.
- A mechanic's lien on the car.Example.
- Ligare means to bind.Etymology.
The binding family
- Ligament — tissue binding bones together
- Oblige — to bind someone to an obligation
- Rely — originally to bind oneself again
- Alloy — from binding metals together
- Religion — possibly from binding, though disputed
French *lien*, a bond, from Latin *ligamen*, from *ligare*, to bind.
What is a lien?
A legal right to keep someone's property until a debt is paid. It binds the property to the debt without transferring ownership.
Is lien related to ligament?
Yes. Both come from Latin ligare, to bind, one binding property and the other binding bones.