noun

• (law) The act of avowing and justifying in one's own right the distraining of goods.
  "Every avowant, and other person, that makes avowry or conusance, or justifies as baily, in replevin or second deliverance, for rent, custom or service, if the plaintiff be barred, shall recover damages and costs."
• (historical) A form of medieval patronage in which colonial tenants, often from criminal backgrounds, were guaranteed protection by an English lord in exchange for the payment of a tax.
  "It would not be accurate to assume that the whole of the income from the avowries represented sums of 4d., though that seems to have been the standard annual payment, for there were, we know, other fees and income arising from avowry."
• (ecclesiastical) Advowson, the right to appoint to a benefice or office.
  "But it is as plain that before those Statuts, if the Rectors of two Churches of severall Auowries, had controuerted the right of a fourth part (or of the value of either of their Churches more) in Tithes, by suit commenced in the spirituall Court, the Patron of the Rector-defendant might haue had an Indicauit, to prohibit the prosecution and holding of the Plea. […] [Bracton] mentions no Writ of right of Aduowson of Tithes that should follow."
• (obsolete) Avowal (open affirmation or admission).
  "In the avowry of my Assumption, I will proue three things."