Seneschal
[sen-uh-shuhl]
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Gothic sineigs old and to Old High German scalc servant
1) Manager of an estate or a household.
(Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 231)
2) Steward or chief officer of lord.
(Frame, Robin. Colonial Ireland, 1169-1369, 144)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary […]
Quintain
[kwin-tn]
Etymology: Etymology: Middle English quintaine, from Anglo-French, perhaps from Latin quintana street in a Roman camp separating the fifth maniple from the sixth where a market was held, from feminine of quintanus fifth in rank, from quintus fifth
Dummy with shield mounted on a post, used as a target in tilting. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life […]
Tenement
[ten-uh-muhnt]
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin tenementum, from Latin tenere to hold
A tenure; an interest in land which may be either “free” or “unfree” according to the services which the tenant is obliged to render in return for it. (Hogue, Arthur R. Origins of the Common Law, 258)
*term definition retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval […]
Virgate
[vur-git, -geyt]
Etymology: Medieval Latin virgata, from virga, a land measure, from Latin, rod
1) Standard tenant’s holding on many manors, but of a size that varied from manor to manor (usually from 20 to 30 acres) — Bennett, Judith M. Women in the Medieval English Countryside, 235
2) A quarter of a hide; often 20 or 30 […]
Castle-Guard
Feudal obligation to serve in the garrison of a castle, either for a period each year or during war. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 229)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)