Bank"rupt (&?;), n. [F. banqueroute,
fr. It. bancarotta bankruptcy; banca bank (fr. OHG.
banch, G. bank, bench) + rotta broken, fr. L.
ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to break. At Florence, it is said,
the bankrupt had his bench ( i.e., money table) broken. See 1st
Bank, and Rupture, n.] 1.
(Old Eng. Low) A trader who secretes himself, or does certain
other acts tending to defraud his creditors. Blackstone.
2. A trader who becomes unable to pay his debts; an
insolvent trader; popularly, any person who is unable to pay his debts; an
insolvent person. M&?;Culloch.
3. (Law) A person who, in accordance with
the terms of a law relating to bankruptcy, has been judicially declared to
be unable to meet his liabilities.
&fist; In England, until the year 1861 none but a "trader" could be made
a bankrupt; a non-trader failing to meet his liabilities being an
"insolvent". But this distinction was abolished by the Bankruptcy Act of
1861. The laws of 1841 and 1867 of the United States relating to bankruptcy
applied this designation bankrupt to others besides those engaged in
trade.
Bank"rupt, a. 1. Being a
bankrupt or in a condition of bankruptcy; unable to pay, or legally
discharged from paying, one's debts; as, a bankrupt
merchant.
2. Depleted of money; not having the means of
meeting pecuniary liabilities; as, a bankrupt treasury.
3. Relating to bankrupts and bankruptcy.
4. Destitute of, or wholly wanting (something once
possessed, or something one should possess). "Bankrupt in
gratitude." Sheridan.
Bankrupt law, a law by which the property of a
person who is unable or unwilling to pay his debts may be taken and
distributed to his creditors, and by which a person who has made a full
surrender of his property, and is free from fraud, may be discharged from
the legal obligation of his debts. See Insolvent,
a.
Bank"rupt, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Bankrupted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bankrupting.] To make bankrupt; to bring financial ruin upon;
to impoverish.
