Herbager

/ˈhɜːrbɪdʒər/ noun

Definition

Archaic term for a person who has the right to feed cattle on common pasture or herbage; someone who grazes livestock on shared land.

Etymology

From 'herbage' (grass/pasture) + '-er' (one who does). An old English feudal and medieval term for someone with grazing rights, still occasionally used in historical legal documents.

Kelly Says

Before modern agriculture, herbagers had legal rights to graze their animals on common lands—these rights were incredibly valuable and fiercely protected, sometimes leading to violent disputes over who could use which fields.

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