In medieval times, the tenure or condition of holding a small cottage or plot of land, typically paying rent to a lord.
From 'bord' plus the Middle English suffix '-age' indicating a state or condition of tenure. This reflects the feudal system where peasants held small plots in exchange for service or rent.
Bordage reveals how medieval economies worked: land wasn't really owned, but rather *held* under specific arrangements—your home and livelihood literally came with contractual obligations written into the very word describing it.
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