Feoff

Fee Fief

Normally, land held by a vassal of a lord in return for stipulated services, chiefly military. Can also apply to an official position. Often called a Holding. Sometimes, unusual requirements were stipulated for transferring a fief. For example: Henry de la Wade held 42 acres of land in Oxford by the service of carrying a gyrfalcon (a falconry bird) whenever Kind Edward I wished to go hawking.

Heritable lands held under feudal tenure; the lands of a tenant in chief. Sometimes this can apply to an official position. Often called a Holding. Normally a land held by a vassal of a lord in return for stipulated services, chiefly military. Sometimes unusual requirements were stipulated for transferring a fief. For example

Henry de la Wade held 42 Acres of land in Oxfordby for the service of carrying a gyrfalcon (see falconry birds) whenever Kind Edward I wished to go hawking.

A unit of land held by a vassal from a lord in return for military service. Fiefs were conferred in an original grant, a grant which stipulated the conditions under which it could be transferred by marriage, inheritance, or under what conditions it would fall into default.