subhastation

1. (obsolete) A public sale or auction required by law, especially one in Germany or neighbouring territories.Examples: "One of the best parts of their Law is the way of Selling Estates, which is likewise practised in Switzerland, and is called Subhastation, from the Roman Custom of selling Sub hasta."; "In the class of privileges [of clergy] belongs the benefit of competence, in consequence of which, in matters of debts and subhastation, the clerical person must be left the means of living according to his station."; "The evils of credit also press heavily on those ignorant peasants who fall into the hands of usurers and land sharks. By giving credit ad infinitum and exacting unusually high interest on their loans, and other sharp and shrewd manipulations, these vampires very frequently, after having sucked the very life-blood out of their poor victims, put their feet upon their necks, and by subhastation drive them from their home."countableobsoleteuncountable