darrein

Etymology
From, ; from , (Modern French ); from an assumed , from  +.

Adjective

 * 1)  In the names of legal actions, pleas, writs, etc.: final, last; dernier.

Usage notes
The word darrein appears in a number of phrases, including assize (and writ) of darrein presentment, plea puis darrein continuance and darrein res(s)ort.

In English law, an advowson was the right, often held together with a fee or fief, to nominate a person to be a parish priest of a church. Such a nomination was subject to episcopal approval. If a person complained he had been unlawfully deprived of an advowson by another person, he could bring a legal action called the assize of darrein presentment for an inquiry into who was the last holder of the advowson (the advowee or patron) to present a priest, and to establish that he was the rightful advowee. The assize was established in 1166 and abolished in 1833.

A plea puis darrein continuance was a plea made after the last continuance in the legal proceedings; for example, if a defendant had already presented his or her case, but wished to raise an additional matter before the jury delivered its verdict.

A darrein resort (or ressort), now more common in the French form dernier ressort (meaning “last resort”), was the final court which a legal matter could be appealed to.

Not to be confused with darrain or deraign.