Serf

A semi-free peasant who works his lord's demesne and pays him certain dues in return for the use of land, the possession (not ownership) of which is heritable. These dues, usually called corvee, are almost in the form of labor on the lord's land. Generally this averages to three days a week. Generally subdivided into classes called cottagers, small holders, or villeins although the later originally meant a free peasant who was burdened with additional rents and services.

Bonded peasant who worked his lord's demesne and paid him certain dues in return for the use of land, the possession (not ownership) of which was heritable, and protection. These dues, usually called corvee, were usually in the form of labour on the lord's land. Generally this averaged three days a week. Some serfs worked as craftsmen, provided transport or other specialised service.

Usually, serfs were bonded to the land rather than to a particular lord: This meant that they could not be sold to a new "owner" unless the relevant parcel of land was also sold. Serfs were generally classified as: "Cottagers," "small-holders," or "villeins" although the later originally meant free peasants who were burdened with additional rents and services.

A peasant, the lowest class in the feudal system, belonging to a class who were tied to the land that they worked on behalf of the lord. They were in a very real sense owned by the lord of the manor or property, gradually becoming rising in rights and eventually synonymous to the English villein.