heriot

American  

[her-ee-uht] / ˈhɛr i ət /

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.

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heriot British  

/ 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

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Etymology

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)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heriot

When Dick understood what heriot meant he would not do it.

From Notwithstanding by Mary Cholmondeley

And if any one depart this life intestate, be it through his neglect, be it through sudden death; then let not the lord draw more from his property than his lawful heriot.

From Popular Law-making by Frederic Jesup Stimson

The heriot of a virgate was generally an ox, or money payment of its value.

From The Enclosures in England An Economic Reconstruction by Harriett Bradley

But the fine paid on the inheritance of their land was less definitely restricted in amount, and heriot was more universally and more regularly collected.

From An Introduction to the Industrial and Social History of England by Edward Potts Cheyney

Free tenants were also frequently bound to pay relief and heriot.

From An Introduction to the Industrial and Social History of England by Edward Potts Cheyney