Es*top"pel (?), n. [From Estop.] Law (a)
A stop; an obstruction or bar to one's alleging or denying a fact contrary to his own previous action, allegation, or denial; an admission, by words or conduct, which induces another to purchase rights, against which the party making such admission can not take a position inconsistent with the admission.
(b)
The agency by which the law excludes evidence to dispute certain admissions, which the policy of the law treats as indisputable.
Wharton. Stephen. Burrill.
© Webster 1913.