1. A male person’s majority.
2. Hist. A ceremony of a vassal paying homage to the vassal’s lord.
— Also termed homagium.
“Besides an oath of fealty, or profession of faith to the lord, which was the parent of our oath of allegiance, the vassal or tenant upon investiture did usually homage to his lord; openly and humbly kneeling, being ungirt, uncovered, and holding up his hands both together between those of the lord, who sate before him; and there professing that ‘he did become his man, from that day forth, of life and limb and earthly honour:’ and then he received a kiss from his lord. Which ceremony was denominated homagium, or manhood, by the feudists.” 2 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 53 (1766).
