fief

[ feef ]

noun

1. a fee or feud held of a feudal lord; a tenure of land subject to feudal obligations.
2. a territory held in fee.
3. fiefdom.

fief

/ fiːf /

noun

1. (in feudal Europe) the property or fee granted to a vassal for his maintenance by his lord in return for service

fief

1. Under feudalism , a landed estate given by a lord to a vassal in return for the vassal's service to the lord. The vassal could use the fief as long as he remained loyal to the lord.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fief¹

1605–15; < French, variant of Old French fieu, fie, cognate with Anglo-French fe fee < Germanic; compare Old High German fihu, Old English feoh cattle, property; akin to Latin pecū flock of sheep, pecus cattle, pecūnia wealth

Word History and Origins

Origin of fief¹

C17: from Old French fie , of Germanic origin; compare Old English fēo cattle, money, Latin pecus cattle, pecūnia money, Greek pokos fleece

Example Sentences

If your daughter insists upon refusing to select from among my men, and marries Eucher, the fief reverts to me.

From Project Gutenberg

"No fief can remain in the possession of a woman," was the sententious utterance of the bailiff.

From Project Gutenberg

This serf, who belonged to the abbey of St. Vincent, a fief of the bishopric, was named Thiegaud.

From Project Gutenberg

This is a fief, of which a like succession of proprietors would render nobility difficult to support.

From Project Gutenberg

At Vaucouleurs she was heard to say that the Dauphin held the kingdom in fief (en commende).

From Project Gutenberg