vi et armis

1 definition found

vi et armis - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  VI ET ARMIS. With force and arms. When man breaks into another's close vi et 
  armis, he may be opposed force by force, for there is no time to request him 
  to go away. 2 Salk. 641; 8 T. R. 78, 357. 
       2. These words are universally inserted in a writ of trespass, because 
  they point out that the act has been done with force, and they are technical 
  words to designate this offence. Ham. N. P. 4, 10, 12; 1 Chit. Pl. 122 to 
  125; and article Force.