merchet
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of merchet
C13: from Anglo-French, literally: market
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bracton remarks that the82 payment of merchet, i.e. of a fine for giving away one's daughter to be married, is not in keeping with personal freedom.
From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff
And still, if the documents had not casually mentioned these instances,204 we should have been left without direct evidence as to a difference of origin in regard to merchet or gersum.
From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff
Such is the merchet of our extents and Court rolls.
From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff
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 Paul Vinogradoff
We cannot admit even for one moment that the whole peasant population of entire counties was descended from personal slaves, as the diffusion of merchet would lead us to suppose.
From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Paul Vinogradoff
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