res nullius
/reɪz ˈnʌlɪəs/ /rɛz ˈnʌlɪəs/Law
noun
Property belonging to no one; a thing or things that can belong to no one.
- Typical examples of res nullius are wild animals and property that has been abandoned..
Origin
Early 18th century. From post-classical Latin res nullius things belonging to no one from rēs, plural of rēs thing + nūllius, genitive of nūllus no one.