Heriot

1 definition found

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

  Heriot \Her"i*ot\, n. [AS. heregeatu military equipment, heriot;
     here army + geatwe, pl., arms, equipments.] (Eng. Law)
     Formerly, a payment or tribute of arms or military
     accouterments, or the best beast, or chattel, due to the lord
     on the death of a tenant; in modern use, a customary tribute
     of goods or chattels to the lord of the fee, paid on the


     decease of a tenant. --Blackstone. Bouvier.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Heriot custom}, a heriot depending on usage.
  
     {Heriot service} (Law), a heriot due by reservation in a
        grant or lease of lands. --Spelman. Blackstone.
        [1913 Webster]