The legal term apportionment (French: apportionement; Mediaeval Latin: apportionamentum, derived from Latin: portio, share) means distribution or allotment in proper shares. It is a term used in law in a variety of senses. Sometimes it is employed roughly and has no technical meaning; this indicates the distribution of a benefit (e.g. salvage or damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1846, § 2), or liability (e.g. general average contributions, or tithe rent-charge), or the incidence of a duty (e.g. obligations as to the maintenance of highways).