OXFORD DICTIONARY
escheat, n. & v. hist.
--n.
1 the reversion of property to the State, or (in feudal law) to a lord, on the owner's dying without legal heirs.
2 property affected by this.
--v.
1 tr. hand over (property) as an escheat.
2 tr. confiscate.
3 intr. revert by escheat.
ME f. OF eschete, ult. f. L excidere (as EX-(1), cadere fall)
ROGET THESAURUS
escheat
Penalty
N
penalty, retribution, pain, pains and penalties, weregild, wergild, peine forte et dure, penance, the devil to pay, fine, mulct, amercement, forfeit, forfeiture,
escheat, damages, deodand, sequestration, confiscation, premunire, doomage.
VB
fine, mulct, amerce, sconce, confiscate, sequestrate, sequester,
escheat, estreat, forfeit.