The intentional and malicious burning of property, traditionally someone else's building or dwelling. Modern statutes often expand this to include burning one's own property under certain circumstances, such as to defraud insurance companies.
From Old French 'arsin' meaning 'burning,' derived from Latin 'ardere' (to burn). Historically one of the most serious crimes because fire could destroy entire communities in an era of wooden buildings and limited firefighting capabilities.
Arson was considered so dangerous in medieval times that it was often punishable by being burned alive - the punishment literally fit the crime! Modern legal twist: you can commit arson by burning your own house if you do it to collect insurance money or if it endangers others, because the crime protects community safety, not just property rights.
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