corvée

[ kawr-vey ]

noun

1. unpaid labor for one day, as on the repair of roads, exacted by a feudal lord.
2. an obligation imposed on inhabitants of a district to perform services, as repair of roads, bridges, etc., for little or no remuneration.

corvée

/ ˈkɔːveɪ /

noun

1. European history a day's unpaid labour owed by a feudal vassal to his lord
2. the practice or an instance of forced labour

Word History and Origins

Origin of corvée¹

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin corrogāta contribution, collection, noun use of feminine of Latin corrogātus (past participle of corrogāre to collect by asking), equivalent to cor- cor- + rogā ( re ) to ask + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of corvée¹

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin corrogāta contribution, from Latin corrogāre to collect, from rogāre to ask

Example Sentences

These men she saw now working in the dread corvee had been forced from their homes by a counterfeit Khedivial order.

From Project Gutenberg

It suggested that other slavery, which did not hide itself under the forms of conscription and corvee.

From Project Gutenberg

She thought he was referring obliquely to the corvee and the other thing in which her life-work was involved.

From Project Gutenberg

The seignior pays six sous for food, each corve, on men, and twelve sous on each corvee of four oxen.

From Project Gutenberg

I should have been with Yankling Sahib now but for this cursed beegar (the corvee).

From Project Gutenberg