n. In Roman law, mortgage; a contract lien given by a debtor to his creditor as security, without giving him possession of the property. It usually if not always related to real property, while security upon personal property was given by possession, and termed pignus, or pledge.n. In French law (hypothèque), a lien on immovable property for security of a debt, without giving the creditor possession.n. In American financial usage, a pledge; alien on personal property, particularly on negotiable securities, given by a debtor by transferring possession, with evidences of title, to his creditor.n. In modern commercial usage, the mortgage of a vessel or her cargo, as in the phrase hypothecation bond, a bottomry bond or respondentia bond. See bottomry and respondentia.