Law. Also 6 lagen, 7, 8 lagon, ligan, 9 lagend. [a. OF. lagan, laguen, lagand (whence med.L. laganum); perh. of Scandinavian origin, from the root of LIE, LAY vbs. Cf. ON. lǫgn, pl. lagnir, ‘a net laid in the sea’ (Vigf.). The spelling ligan seems to be due to pseudo-etymology.] Goods or wreckage lying on the bed of the sea. Cf. FLOTSAM and JETSAM.
[1200. Carta de Dunewic, in Stubbs, Sel. Charters (1895), 311. De ewagio de wrec et lagan.]
1531. Charterparty, in R. G. Marsden, Sel. Pl. Crt. Adm. (1894), 37. Yff the sayd shype take any pryse purchase any flotson or lagen. Ibid. (1533). Flotezon or lagason.
1591. Articles conc. Admiralty, 21 July, § 6. Any ship, yron, leade, or other goods floating or lying under the water or in the depth, of which there is no possessor or owner, which commonly are called Flotzon, Jetson, and Lagan.
1605. Coke, Rep., V. (1624), 106 b. Lagan (vel potius ligan) est quand [etc.; translated in quot. 1641].
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 18 [citing Coke]. Flotsan, Jetsan and Lagan are goods on or in the Sea, and … they belong to the King.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 193. Lagan is such a parcell of goods as the Mariners in a danger of shipwracke cast out … and fasten to them a boigh or corke, that so they may finde them…. These goods are called Lagan or Ligan à ligando.
1707. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. x. 143. To the Lord High Admiral belongs … a Share of all lawful Prizes, Lagon … that is, goods lying in the Sea, on Ground.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., I. vi. 171. Prowling about the shore after the waifs of the storm, deserted jetsom and lagend.
1894. Act 57–8 Vict., c. 60 § 510. In this Part of this Act … ‘wreck’ includes jetsam, flotsam, lagan, and derelict found in or on the shores of the sea or any tidal water.
Hence † Lagander, an officer (at Calais) who takes charge of lagan or wreckage.
1526. in Dillon, Customs of Pale (1892), 86. If ther be anie manner of Wracke found by the sea coste, it muste be presented to the Lagander or to the Sergeante … broughte to the foresaide Lagander’s hous.
