gavelkind

American  

[gav-uhl-kahynd] / ˈgæv əlˌkaɪnd /

noun

English Law.

1. (originally) a tenure of land in which the tenant was liable for a rental in money or produce rather than for labor or military service.

2. a customary system of land tenure whose chief feature was equal division of land among the heirs of the holder.

3. the land so held.

---

gavelkind British  

/ ˈɡævəlˌkaɪnd /

noun

1. a former system of land tenure peculiar to Kent based on the payment of rent to the lord instead of the performance of services by the tenant

2. the land subject to such tenure

3. English law (formerly) land held under this system

---

Etymology

Origin of gavelkind

1175–1225; Middle English gavelkinde, gavlikind, Old English gafel gavel ² + ( ge ) cynd kind ²

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gavelkind

Land tenure, tribal, 6; primogeniture, 11, 12; gavelkind, 11, 12; in the 18th century, 65, 66.

From Is Ulster Right? by Anonymous

It is known that it existed previous to the conversion of Ireland to Christianity, and that the laws of tanistry and of gavelkind, the customs of gossipred and of fostering, were of pagan origin.

From Irish Race in the Past and the Present by Augustus J. Thebaud

Disgavel, dis-gav′el, v.t. to relieve from the tenure of gavelkind.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Where the custom of gavelkind prevails, the widow's share is a half, and that of free-bench gives her the whole or a portion of a copyhold, according to the custom of the manor.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 1: Deposition to Eberswalde by Various

In the Saxon times, land was divided equally among all the male children of the deceased, according to the custom of gavelkind.

From The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part A. From the Britons of Early Times to King John by David Hume

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---