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)
Pavise
[pav-is]
1. Large, free-standing shield on hinged support used by archers and crossbowmen as protection when shooting. (Seward, Desmond. Henry V: The Scourge of God, 223)
2. Large rectangular shield carried by spearmen or shield bearers (pavisers) and used to provide cover for crossbowmen. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 250)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Enceinte
[en-seynt, ahn-sant]
Etymology: French, from Old French, enclosing wall, from enceindre to surround, from Latin incingere, from in- + cingere to gird
An enclosing wall, usually exterior, of a fortified place. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 226)
Dais
[dey-is]
Etymology: Middle English deis, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin discus high table, from Latin, dish, quoit
Raised platform for high table. (Wood, Margaret. The English Medieval House, 411)
The terms this week are all related to types of horses used in the medieval period.
Destrier:
Charger, warhorse.
(Prestwich, Michael. Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, 347)
Palefridus or Palfrey:
The finest sort of riding horse, as opposed to a warhorse. The word is derived from paraveredus, but like caballus it has gone up in […]
Chancery
[chan-suh-ree, chahn-]
Middle English chancerie, alteration of chancelerie chancellery, from Anglo-French, from chanceler
Part of the king’s household and responsible for writing his writs and other instruments of government.
(Sayles, George O. The King’s Parliament of England, 144)
Allure
1) Wall-walk, passage behind the parapet of a castle wall.
(Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 225)
2) The patch along the top of a castle or town wall, providing access to any part of the wall circuit behind the cover of the parapet.
(Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 246)
Hoarding
[hawr-ding, hohr-]
Wooden galleries erected on the face of a castle’s battlements to enable the defenders to fire on men attacking the base of the wall. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 249)
Villein
[vil-uhn]
Middle English vilain, vilein
1) The wealthiest class of peasant. they usually cultivate 20-40 acres of land, often in isolated strips.
(MEDIEV-L. Medieval Terms)
2) A non-free man, owing heavy labor service to a lord, subject to his manorial court, bound to the land, and subject to certain feudal dues.
(Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, […]