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Simple English definitions for legal terms
legerwite
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A quick definition of legerwite:
Legerwite is an old word that means a fine for doing something wrong. Specifically, it was a fine paid to the lord of the manor for committing adultery or fornication. The lord had the right to receive this fine, especially if the person involved was one of his female villeins. Other names for legerwite include lairwite, lecherwite, and leirwita.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Legerwite is a fine for adultery or fornication paid to the lord of the manor in medieval times. It was a lord's privilege of receiving a fine for fornication with the lord's female villeins.
Example: If a man had sexual relations with a female villein who belonged to the lord of the manor, he would have to pay a legerwite as a fine to the lord.
This example illustrates how legerwite was a way for lords to control the sexual behavior of their female villeins and to profit from it.