Bote

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bote \Bote\, n. [Old form of boot; -- used in composition. See
     1st {Boot}.] (Law)
     (a) Compensation; amends; satisfaction; expiation; as, man
         bote, a compensation or a man slain.
     (b) Payment of any kind. --Bouvier.
     (c) A privilege or allowance of necessaries.


         [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This word is still used in composition as equivalent to
           the French estovers, supplies, necessaries; as,
           housebote, a sufficiency of wood to repair a house, or
           for fuel, sometimes called firebote; so plowbote,
           cartbote, wood for making or repairing instruments of
           husbandry; haybote or hedgebote, wood for hedges,
           fences, etc. These were privileges enjoyed by tenants
           under the feudal system. --Burrill. --Bouvier.
           --Blackstone.
           [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  BOTE, contracts A recompense, satisfaction, amends, profit or advantage : 
  hence came the word man-bote, denoting a compensation for a man slain; 
  house-bote, cart-bote, plough-bote, signify that a tenant is privileged to 
  cut wood for these uses. 2 Bl. Com. 35; Woodf. L. & T. 232.