ALLUVION, Alluvio, in the Civil Law, an Accessior or Accretion made along the Sea-shore, or the Banks of large Rivers, by means of Tempests or Inundations, Accretion, &c.
The Civil Law places Alluvio among the lawful means of Acquisition; and defines it to be a latent imperceptible Accretion. Hence, where any considerable Portion of Ground is torn away at once, by an Inundation; and joined to some neighbouring Estate; this is not acquired by right of Alluvion, but may be claimed again by the former Proprietor. The Word is formed of the Latin alluo, I wash to; compounded of ad, and lavo, I wash.
