Gavelkind

2 definitions found

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

  Gavelkind \Gav"el*kind`\, n. [OE. gavelkynde, gavelkende. See
     {Gavel} tribute, and {Kind}, n.] (O. Eng. Law)
     A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his
     sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying
     without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still
     prevails in the county of Kent. --Cowell.


     [1913 Webster]

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

  GAVELKIND. Given to all the kindred, or the hold or tenure of a family, not 
  the kind of tenure. Eng. law. A tenure or custom annexed or belonging to 
  land in Kent, by which the lands of the father are equally divided among all 
  his sons, or the land of the brother among all his brothers, if he have no 
  issue of his own. Litt. s. 210.