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Glossary
Alphbetical Indices:-
A B C D E
F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U
V W X Y Z
A
Advowson
The right of presentation to a church benefice,
B
Benefice
A church living especially one with a cure of souls. Historically it can also mean a fief.
Bordere or Bordar
A villein who held his hut at his lord's pleasure.
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).
C
Canon
A canon regular was a member of an order (Augustininan, 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.
D
Deanery
A 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.
E
Encomium
High recommendation or a eulogy.
F
Fief
A land held in fee on condition of military service.
Frater
The refectory or dining room in a monastery. Also sometimes used in error for the common room or chapter house.
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Messuage
A 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.
Misericord
A bracket on a turn-up seat in a choir stall to provide some support when standing during services.
Motte and Bailey
A mound, the motte, with a castle; the bailey is the outer wall.
N
O
P
Q
Quarenten
A measure of forty but of forty what I have not found out.
Quitclaim
The transfer of a title, right, or claim to another.
R
S
Sedilia
Usually three seats in niches on the south side of the chancel for the officiating clergy.
Serf
A feudal slave. Later meaning a poor peasant.
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.
T
U
V
Villein
Originally a free villager. By the Thirteenth Century a serf free in relation to all but his lord, developing later into a copyholder.