Bible Dictionaries
Preemption

Webster's Dictionary

(1):

(n.) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others.

(2):

(n.) The right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly those of the United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed price in preference to all other applicants.

(3):

(n.) The act or right of purchasing before others.

Bibliography Information
Webster, Noah. Entry for 'Preemption'. Noah Webster's American Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​web/​p/preemption.html. 1828.