gavelkind Hear it!

gavelkind definition

gav·el·kind (gav′əl kīnd′)

noun

Historical in Great Britain, a system of land tenure by which:
  1. the property of a man dying intestate was divided equally among his sons
  2. the tenant could dispose of his land by feoffment at the age of fifteen
  3. the land did not escheat upon the conviction of the tenant as a felon

Etymology: ME gavelkynde (orig. Kentish) < gavel, tribute, tax, rent (< OE gafol < base of giefan: see give) + kynde, kind

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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