Corvee

2 definitions found

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

  Corvee \Cor`vee"\ (k?r`v" or -v?"), n. [F. corv['e]e, fr. LL.
     corvada, corrogata, fr. L. corrogare to entreat together;
     cor- + rogare to ask.] (Feudal Law)
     An obligation to perform certain services, as the repair of
     roads, for the lord or sovereign.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  corvee
       n : unpaid labor (as for the maintenance of roads) required by a
           lord of his vassals in lieu of taxes