A medieval tax or fee charged for the use of a communal oven or furnace, or the right to use one.
From Old French fornage, derived from forn (furnace), with the suffix -age indicating a duty, fee, or right—similar to usage like 'poundage' or 'tonnage' in medieval commerce.
In medieval villages, furnage was actually a brilliant way to fund public infrastructure: villagers paid small fees to use the lord's oven, ensuring the oven stayed maintained while giving the lord steady income without taxes on income itself.
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