tenant in chief

American  

Or tenant-in-chief

noun

1. a feudal vassal who holds land directly from the king.

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tenant-in-chief British  

noun

1. (in feudal society) a tenant who held some or all of his lands directly from the king

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Etymology

Origin of tenant in chief

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

It is not thirty years ago since Mr Cameron of Lochiel, a gentleman of Lochaber in Scotland, without any legal warrant whatever, not being what was then called a lord of regality, nor even a tenant in chief, but a vassal of the Duke of Argyll, and without being so much as a justice of peace, used, notwithstanding, to exercise the highest criminal jurisdictions over his own people.

From Project Gutenberg

Theory of Selden; According to the first, every tenant in chief by knight-service was an honorary or parliamentary baron by reason of his tenure.

From Project Gutenberg

After the statute commonly called Quia emptores in the eighteenth of Edward I. they were likely to increase much more, as every licensed alienation of any portion of a fief by a tenant in chief would create a new freehold immediately depending upon the crown.

From Project Gutenberg

No tenant in chief or royal servant might be excommunicated, or their land placed under interdict, but by the king's assent.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Great Councils the prelates and greater barons had assembled, and the lesser barons were also summoned; the term baron being equivalent to tenant in chief.

From Project Gutenberg