Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: CHIEFRY
Definition: Chiefry is a small amount of money that a person who owns land had to pay to the king or queen a long time ago. It was a way for the king or queen to show that they were in charge of the land. Sometimes it is spelled as chiefrie or chiefery.
Definition: Chiefry (cheef-ree) is a historical term that refers to a small rent paid by a feudal landholder to the sovereign.
Example: In medieval England, a lord who held land from the king would pay a chiefry as a symbol of their loyalty and obligation to the crown.
Explanation: The example illustrates how chiefry was a way for feudal landholders to acknowledge their allegiance to the sovereign and maintain their rights to the land they held. The payment of chiefry was a common practice in feudal societies and helped to establish the hierarchy of power and authority.