A feudal tax or tribute paid to a chief or lord; the fee or obligation owed by vassals to their leader.
Formed from 'chief' plus the suffix '-age,' which creates nouns meaning a tax, fee, or system (like 'patronage'). This word reflects feudal governance systems where tenants paid their rulers.
Words ending in '-age' often refer to systems of payment or allegiance (like 'homage,' 'vassalage,' 'lineage'), which is why medieval history texts are full of these words—they describe a world built on interconnected obligations and debts.
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