villeinage

(-ij)

or villenage

noun

  1. the status of a villein
  2. the conditions of tenure by which a villein held his land

Origin: ME villenage < OFr: see villain

See villeinage in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also vil·lain·age

noun
  1. The legal status or condition of a villein.
  2. The legal tenure by which a villein held land.

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