Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OC'CU-PAN-CY, n. [L. occupo, to take or seize; ob and capio, to seize.]

1. The act of taking possession.
2. In law, the taking possession of a thing not belonging to any person. The person who first takes possession of land is said to have or hold it by right of occupancy. Occupancy gave the original right to the property in the substance of the earth itself. Blackstone.