estop

verb

es·​top e-ˈstäp 

estopped; estopping

transitive verb

1

archaic : to stop up

2

: bar

specifically : to impede by estoppel

Word History

Etymology

Middle English estoppen, from Anglo-French estoper, estuper, from Vulgar Latin *stuppare to stop with a tow — more at stop

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

estop

transitive verb

es·​top es-ˈtäp 

estopped; estopping

: to impede or bar by estoppel

Etymology

Anglo-French estop(p)er, literally, to stop up, from Middle French estouper, ultimately from Latin stuppa hemp fiber (used for plugging holes)