heriot

[ her-ee-uht ]

/ ˈhɛr i ət /

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noun English Law.

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.

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Origin of heriot

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)

Words nearby heriot

hereupon, Hereward, herewith, Hergesheimer, Hering, heriot, Herisau, heritability, heritable, heritage, heritance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use heriot in a sentence

The usher signed to Heriot to advance, and the honest citizen was presently introduced into the cabinet of the Sovereign.
The Fortunes of Nigel|Sir Walter Scott
George Heriot was courtier enough to say, that "the wise naturally follow the wisest, as stags follow their leader."
The Fortunes of Nigel|Sir Walter Scott
George Heriot could not exactly answer this question; but believed "the young lord had studied abroad."
The Fortunes of Nigel|Sir Walter Scott
Heriot, as he descended the stairs, met his cash-keeper coming up, with some concern in his face.
The Fortunes of Nigel|Sir Walter Scott

George Heriot rose from the table, observing, that wine-cups and legal documents were unseemly neighbours.
The Fortunes of Nigel|Sir Walter Scott

British Dictionary definitions for heriot

heriot

/ (ˈhɛrɪət) /

noun

(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 Origin for heriot

Old English heregeatwa, from here army + geatwa equipment

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