villeinage
villeinage (vil-[schwa]-nij). Hist. 1. The holding of property through servitude to a feudal lord; a servile type of tenure in which a tenant was obliged to render base services to a lord. Cf. KNIGHT SERVICE; SOCAGE. 2. A villein’s status, condition, or service. — Also spelled villenage; villainage; villanage. — Also termed villein tenure. “The […]