Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAM'PER-TY, n. [Fr. champart, field-rent; champ, L. campus, a field, and part, a share, or partir, to divide, campum partire.]

A species of maintenance, being a bargain with a plaintif or defendant, to divide the land or other matter in suit, between them, if they prevail; whereupon the champertor is to carry on the party's suit at his own expense. The purchase of a suit, or of the right of suing. – Blackstone.