GRASSUM
grassum (gras-<<schwa>>m). [Law Latin] Scots law. 1. An additional lease payment made in
anticipation of or in addition to rent. Pl. grassums.2.GRESSUME.
“Grassum; an anticipation of rent in a gross or lump sum …. In questions with singular
successors there is no limitation of the power to take grassums, only the rent must not be thereby
diminished so as to be altogether elusory. In regard, however, to lands under entail, the heir in
possession must administer the estate secundum bonum et aequum, taking no more of the annually
accruing rents and profits than he leaves to descend to his successors. Hence, grassums, as being,
in effect, anticipations of the future rents, to the prejudice of succeeding heirs, are held to be
struck at by the prohibition against alienation.” William Bell, Bell’s Dictionary and Digest of the
Laws of Scotland 492 (George Watson ed., 7th ed. 1890). [Blacks Law 8th]