heriot

[her-ee-uht]

noun

English Law.

1. a feudal service or tribute, originally of borrowed military equipment and later of a chattel, due to the lord on the death of a tenant.

heriot

/ ˈhɛrɪət /

noun

1. (in medieval England) a death duty paid by villeins and free tenants to their lord, often consisting of the dead man's best beast or chattel

Word History and Origins

Origin of heriot¹

before 900; Middle English heriot, heriet, Old English heregeate, heregeatu, heregeatwa war gear, equivalent to here army + geate, etc., equipment; cognate with Old Norse gǫtvar (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of heriot¹

Old English heregeatwa, from here army + geatwa equipment

Example Sentences

Following a spell in Surrey, he returned to Heriot Watt in 1977, going on to become Scotland's first black professor in 1989 before eventually retiring in 2005.

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One memorable scene in Edinburgh was filmed in The Vennel, an historic staircase that runs from The Grassmarket along the boundary of George Heriot's School.

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Initially the Loughbrough Lightning lock - who still faces further surgery to completely remove the tumour - thought she was simply feeling under the weather when her neck became sore at the end of a training camp at Heriot Watt University.

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At George Heriot’s School – which was founded in the 17th century to provide for some of Edinburgh’s poorest children – Mrs Gibson claimed a “pain point where people will not be able to afford to go beyond” will arrive with the fee increase.

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George Heriot’s had already increased fees by 6% for the 2024/25 year, and while it’s unclear what will happen with the VAT increase, the last letter it sent to parents suggested the school won’t absorb all of those costs.

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