Feu

/fjuː/ noun

Definition

A feudal tenure or the land itself held under such conditions in Scotland; specifically, a perpetual lease where the tenant pays fixed annual rent.

Etymology

From Old French 'feu' and Frankish 'fehu,' which is also the root of 'fee.' This Scottish legal term represents a distinct form of land tenure unique to Scottish property law.

Kelly Says

Scottish feu tenure is still legally distinct today—it's one of the most enduring medieval legal structures still in use, where people technically hold land 'in perpetuity' by paying nominal annual rents!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.