ELECTRUM

electrum, electron (gr. _[greek: elektron]_, amber), an alloy of gold and silver in use among the ancients, described by pliny as containing one part of silver to four of gold. the term is also applied in mineralogy to native argentiferous gold containing from 20 to 50% of silver. in both cases the name is derived from the pale yellow colour of electrum, resembling that of amber. elegit (lat. for "he has chosen"), in english law, a judicial writ of execution, given by the statute of westminster ii. (1285), and so called from the words of the writ, that the plaintiff has chosen (_elegit_) this mode of satisfaction. previously to the statute of westminster ii., a judgment creditor could only have the profits of lands of a debtor in satisfaction of his judgment, but not the possession of the lands themselves. but this statute provided that henceforth it should be _in the election_ of the party having recovered judgment to have a writ of _fieri facias_ (q.v.) unto the sheriff on lands and goods or else all the chattels of the debtor and the one half of his lands until the judgment be satisfied. since the bankruptcy act 1883 the writ of _elegit_ has extended to lands and hereditaments only. (see further execution.)