estovers

American  

[e-stoh-verz] / ɛˈstoʊ vərz /

plural noun

Law.

1. necessaries allowed by law, as wood and timber to a tenant or alimony to a spouse.

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estovers British  

/ ɛˈstəʊvəz /

plural noun

1. law a right allowed by law to tenants of land to cut timber, esp for fuel and repairs

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Etymology

Origin of estovers

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, noun use of Old French estovoir, estover to be necessary ≪ Latin est opus there is need

Example Sentences

Their rights of usufruct, grazing, pannage, estovers, turbary and piscary survived for many centuries before being terminated: first informally, later in wholesale acts of enclosure.

From The Guardian • Jan. 31, 2011

Moreover, the statutes have never enabled an inclosure to be made against commoners entitled to estovers or turbary.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7 "Columbus" to "Condottiere" by Various

And to make this plainer, if need be, it is added, "If a man grants to one estovers to repair his house, it is appurtenant to his house."

From The Common Law by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

That all the wood or timber which shall hereafter grow upon the remaining 13,000 acres shall absolutely belong to his Majesty, discharged from all estovers for ever, and pannage for twenty years next ensuing. 

From The Forest of Dean An Historical and Descriptive Account by Nicholls, H. G. (Henry George)

Mr. and Mrs. Scobel were among those dusky figures grouped around the wide firelit hearth, where the piled-up logs testified to the Tempest common of estovers.

From Vixen, Volume II. by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)