What is "usucaption"

Usucaption \U`su*cap"tion\ (?; 277), n. [L. usucapere, usucaptum, to acquire by long use; usu (ablative of usus use) + capere to take: cf. usucapio usucaption.] (Roman Law) The acquisition of the title or right to property by the uninterrupted possession of it for a certain term prescribed by law; -- the same as prescription in common law.

n. The acquisition of right or title to an object by means of the passage of time.

Usucaption (Latin usucapio) (in U.S. and U.K. known as acquisitive prescription) is a concept found in civil law systems and has its origin in the Roman law of property.

Usucaption is a method by which ownership of property (i.e. title to the property) can be gained by possession of it beyond the lapse of a certain period of time ( acquiescence). While usucaption has been compared with adverse possession (that is, squatting), the true effect of usucaption is to remedy defects in title.