heriot


her·i·ot

H0162800 (hĕr′ē-ət)n. A tribute or service rendered to a feudal lord on the death of a tenant.
[Middle English, from Old English heregeatu : here, army; see koro- in Indo-European roots + geatwe, equipment, arms.]

heriot

(ˈhɛrɪət) n (Historical Terms) (in medieval England) a death duty paid by villeins and free tenants to their lord, often consisting of the dead man's best beast or chattel[Old English heregeatwa, from here army + geatwa equipment]