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GlossaryAlphabetical Indices: AAdvowsonThe right of presentation to a church benefice. Old French.
BBeneficeA church living especially one with a cure of souls. Historically it can also mean a fief. Latin.
Bordere or Bordar
A villein who held his hut at his lord's pleasure. Latin of Germanic origin.
Bovate
A measure of land also called oxgang, oxgate or oxland: one eighth of a caracute of ploughland, the share attributed to each ox in a team of eight (approximately 13 acres). Latin.
By
Old Norse for settlement.
CCanonA canon regular was a member of an order (Augustinian, Austin or Black Canons) who lived under the rule of St Augustine (of Hippo) or offshoots (Premonstratensiansian or White Canons). They lived a life somewhere between the seclusion of monks and the everyday life of secular clergy according to the rules of their order.
Carucate
A measure of land as much land as team of oxen could plough in a season. Latin.
Clerestory
An upper storey or part of one with its own windows, usually used for the storey above the triforium in a church. English Clear storey.
DDeaneryA group of parishes presided over by a dean.
Demesne
Pronounced 'demain', a manor house with attached lands not let to tenant, or any
estate with land.
Diocese
The extent of a bishop's jurisdiction.
Dorter
The dormitory in a monastery. Old French from Latin.
EEncomiumHigh recommendation or a eulogy. Latin.
FFiefA land held in fee on condition of military service. Also fee and feoff. French from Latin feudum, hence the term feudal.
Franklin
A freeholder of land free from feudal service to their superior. Frank meaning free in Old French.
Frater
The refectory or dining room in a monastery. Also sometimes used in error for the common room or chapter house. Old French from Latin.
Free Warren
The right to keep or hunt a piece of ground used for breeding game.
GGateFrom the Old English gade (from the verb to go) meaning street or way, it was originally pronounced 'ga-uh' with a glottal stop for the D and the final E pronounced very softly.
HIInfangthiefThe right of taking and fining a thief within the boundaries on one's own jurisdiction. Old English.
see also Outfangthief
JKLMMessuageA dwelling house, with the adjacent buildings and enclosed area immediately surrounding the house or dwelling, and the adjoining lands appropriated to the use of the household. Anglo French.
Misericord
A bracket on a turn-up seat in a choir stall to provide some support when standing during
services. Latin.
Motte and Bailey
A mound, the motte, with a castle; the bailey is the outer wall.
NOOutfangthiefThe right of judging and fining thieves taken outside the boundaries on one's own
jurisdiction. Old English. see also Infangthief
Oxgang
A measure of land also called bovate, oxgate or oxland: one eighth of a caracute of ploughland, the share attributed to each ox in a team of eight (approximately 13 acres). Old English.
PQQuarentenA measure of forty but of forty what I have not found out. From Latin.
Quitclaim
The transfer of a title, right, or claim to another. French.
RSSediliaUsually three seats in niches on the south side of the chancel for the officiating clergy. Latin.
Seneschal
A steward or major-domo. Old French from German meaning old servant, Also Old English scealc meaning servant.
Serf
A feudal slave. Later meaning a poor peasant. Old French from the Latin servus.
Soke or Soc
The right of holding a local court. Hence Socage (Soccage) tenure of lands fixed and determinate in quality and Sokeman (Socager Socman) a tenant by socage and Soken a district under a particular jurisdiction. It was an important distinction sokemen were not serfs. Old English.
TThorpe or ThorpHamlet or village. Old Norse.
Triforium
A gallery, storey or arcade over an aisle. Latin.
UVVilleinOriginally a free villager. By the 13th Century a serf free in relation to all but his lord, developing later into a copyholder. Villeinage or villenage being the tenure. Anglo French.
WWickOld English for village, or farm, particularly a dairy farm.
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