copyhold

[kop-ee-hohld]

noun

(formerly) a type of ownership of land in England, evidenced by a copy of the manor roll establishing the title.
an estate held under such ownership.

Origin of copyhold

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at copy, hold¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for copyhold

Historical Examples of copyhold

Then the man died, leaving his wife with child, and leaving an estate in lands of copyhold.
George Fox
George Fox
You ought to hear how she got the copyhold of her house extended.
Life's Little Ironies
Thomas Hardy
In ejectment, the defendant pleaded a surrender of a copyhold by the hand of Fosset, the steward.
Report of the Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott versus John F.A. Sandford
Benjamin C. Howard
It has no copyhold lands, nor are there any records of manor courts.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2
Various
The Manor comprises 1,200 acres, none of which is now copyhold.
The Annals of Willenhall
Frederick William Hackwood

British Dictionary definitions for copyhold

copyhold

noun law (formerly)

1. a tenure less than freehold of land in England evidenced by a copy of the Court roll
2. land held in this way

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012