[f. ABANDON v. + -EE; repr. Fr. abandonné.] The person to whom anything is formally or legally abandoned; spec. the underwriter to whom the salvage of a wrecked vessel is abandoned. See ABANDON v. 6.
1824. Benecke, Treat. Indemnity in Mar. Ins., viii. 406. The abandonee of ship has all the rights of the ship-owner cast upon him by the abandonment, and being so entitled, has a right, if he uses the ship for completing her voyage, to her earnings, as against the world.
1848. Arnould, Law. of Mar. Ins. (1866), II. III. vi. 869. It is a question, whether, upon abandonment to the underwriter on goods, the abandonee takes the salvage subject to Shipowner’s claim for freight.
1880. Maclachlan, Merch. Shipp. (ed. 3), x. 507. If, upon the completion of a voyage, the abandonee may withhold the goods until the freight is paid, he must have acquired an indefeasible title to it.
