[ahr-suh
n] 
| Law. the malicious burning of another's house or property, or in some statutes, the burning of one's own house or property, as to collect insurance. |
| ar·son (är'sən) 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. [Anglo-Norman, from Late Latin ārsiō, ārsiōn-, from Latin ārsus, past participle of ārdēre, to burn; see as- in Indo-European roots.] ar'son·ist n. |
