tallage

American  

[tal-ij] / ˈtæl ɪdʒ /

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.

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tallage British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of tallage

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

Example Sentences

Arbitrary tallage was almost invariably abolished by the town charters.

From Project Gutenberg

Arbitrary imposts are forbidden and any of the inhabitants who as serfs had been paying arbitrary tallage are relieved of the burden.

From Project Gutenberg

Such tallage at will is not found very often in the documents, although the lord sometimes retained his prerogative in this respect even when sanctioning the customary forms of renders and services.

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

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

From Project Gutenberg