The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. The crime of maliciously, voluntarily, and willfully setting fire to the building, buildings, or other property of another or of burning one's own property for an improper purpose, as to collect insurance.
n. The crime of setting a fire with intent to cause damage.
n. An instance of such a crime.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. The malicious burning of a dwelling house or outhouse of another man, which by the common law is felony; the malicious and voluntary firing of a building or ship.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. In law, the malicious burning of a dwelling-house or outhouse of another.
n. A saddlebow; sometimes, a saddle.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. malicious burning to destroy property
Word Usage
"Even misdemanor arson is a disqualifier many places."