Curtesies

1 definition found

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

  Curtesy \Cur"te*sy\ (k?r"t?-s?), n.; pl. {Curtesies} (-s?z).
     [Either fr. courlesy, the lands being held as it were by
     favor; or fr. court (LL. curtis), the husband being regarded
     as holding the lands as a vassal of the court. See {Court},
     {Courtesy}.] (Law)
     the life estate which a husband has in the lands of his


     deceased wife, which by the common law takes effect where he
     has had issue by her, born alive, and capable of inheriting
     the lands. --Mozley & W.
     [1913 Webster]