Lord in gross
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
In feudal law. He who is lord, not by reason of any manor, but as the king in respect of his crown, etc. "Very lord" is he who is immediate lord to his tenant; and "very tenant," he who holds immediately of that lord. So that, where there is lord paramount, lord mesne, and tenant, the lord paramount is not very lord to the tenant.
Wharton.