quitrent

The proprietors were promised a remission of £16 for men, and £20 for women, on the quit-rent.

A hundred acres were promised for forty shillings, with a quit-rent of one shilling annually to the proprietor forever.

A century later villenage—that is payment for tenancy by service, instead of by quit-rent—was practically extinguished.

The phrase was afterwards applied to any holding of which the quit-rent was merely nominal, such as a penny, a peppercorn, &c.