merchet

British  

/ ˈmɜːtʃɪt /

noun

1. (in feudal England) a fine paid by a tenant, esp a villein, to his lord for allowing the marriage of his daughter

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Etymology

Origin of merchet

C13: from Anglo-French, literally: _market

Example Sentences

If, on the one hand, not all the serfs paid merchet, on155 the other there is sufficient evidence to show that it was paid in some cases by free people.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

He laboured under many disabilities, such as the merchet or fine for marrying his daughter, and fines for selling horse or ox.

From A Short History of English Agriculture by Curtler, W. H. R. (William Henry Ricketts)

I have said already that the succession of the youngest son appears with merchet, reeveship, etc., as a servile custom.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

And so we are driven to the inference, that different customs prevailed in this respect in places immediately adjoining each other, and that not all the feudal serfs descended from Saxon slaves paid merchet.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

It seems to me that Glanville has in mind liberation de facto from certain duties and customs, such as agricultural work for instance, or the payment of merchet.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul