mesne lord

noun

1. (in old English law) an intermediate feudal lord; the tenant of a chief lord and a lord to his own tenants.

mesne lord

noun

1. (in feudal society) a lord who held land from a superior lord and kept his own tenants on it

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesne lord¹

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

And the mesne lord will often be a very great man, some prelate or baron with a widespread honour.

From Project Gutenberg