Forms: 6–7 estople, -pel, -ppell, 7–8 estopple, (9 estoppal), 6– estoppel. [app. ad. OF. estoupail, estouppail bung or cork, f. estouper: see ESTOP. Cf. STOPPLE.]
† 1. An obstruction (to a watercourse) whether natural or artificial. Obs.
1607. Norden, Surv. Dial., 200 (N.). But estoples of water courses, do in some places grow by such meanes, as one priuate man or two cannot by force or discretion make remedy.
1638. Earl Cork, Diary, in Lismore Papers, Ser. I. (1886), V. 44. I sent him 5 Indictments and orders for removing the weares and other estopels.
2. Law. An impediment or bar to a right of action arising from a man’s own act, or where he is forbidden by law to speak against his own deed. (Wharton.)
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., II. xliv. (1638), 141. Without it be by such a matter that it worke by way of conclusion or estoppell.
1645. Milton, Colast. (1851), 376. This shall bee an Estoppel to him in an Assise from the recovering his own Land.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. ii. (1743), 47. No Estoppel can bind him [the King].
1794. Mathias, Purs. Lit. (1798), 377. He may take advantage of the estoppel, it runs with the land.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 538. Executory interests … may be passed at law by deed, fine, and common recovery, by way of estoppel.
1853. Wharton, Pa. Digest, 783. Estoppel rests on the principle that every man is presumed to speak and act according to the truth and fact of the case.
† b. gen. Stoppage, prohibition. Obs.
1583. T. Stocker, Civ. Warres Low C., II. 5 b. Accordyng to the full rate of the tyme of the saied Estoppell.
