tallage

[ tal-ij ]

noun

1. Medieval History. a tax paid by peasants to the lord of their manor.
2. a compulsory tax levied by the Norman and early Angevin kings of England upon the demesne lands of the crown and upon all royal towns.

tallage

/ ˈtælɪdʒ /

noun

1. 1. a tax levied by the Norman and early Angevin kings on their Crown lands and royal towns
   2. a toll levied by a lord upon his tenants or by a feudal lord upon his vassals

verb

1. tr to levy a tax (upon); impose a tax (upon)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tallage¹

1250–1300; Middle English taillage < Old French taill ( ier ) to cut, tax ( tail ² ) + Middle English -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of tallage¹

C13: from Old French taillage, from taillier to cut; see tailor

Example Sentences

In the latter instance the king also gave leave to the lay and spiritual nobility to set a tallage on their own tenants.

From Project Gutenberg

A tallage on royal towns and demesnes, nevertheless, was set without authority of parliament four years afterwards.

From Project Gutenberg

Now and then it is mentioned that the tallage is to be levied once a year, although the amount remains uncertain.

From Project Gutenberg

On the boundary between personal subjection and political subordination we find the liability of the peasantry to pay tallage.

From Project Gutenberg

Tallage, even arbitrary tallage, was but a tax after all, and did not detract from personal freedom or free tenure in this sense.

From Project Gutenberg