heriot

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: her=i=ot

CIDE DICTIONARY

heriot, n. [AS. heregeatu military equipment, heriot; here army + geatwe, pl., arms, equipments.].

 Formerly, a payment or tribute of arms or military accouterments, or the best beast, or chattel, due to the lord on the death of a tenant; in modern use, a customary tribute of goods or chattels to the lord of the fee, paid on the decease of a tenant.  Blackstone. Bouvier.  [1913 Webster]

Heriot custom, a heriot depending on usage. -- Heriot service (Law), a heriot due by reservation in a grant or lease of lands. Spelman. Blackstone.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

heriot, n. Brit. hist. a tribute paid to a lord on the death of a tenant, consisting of a live animal, a chattel, or, orig., the return of borrowed equipment.

Etymology

OE heregeatwa f. here army + geatwa trappings