Feud

[L. Lat. feudum, feodum; Fr. fief, Scotch feu.] A stipendiary estate in land, held of a superior, by service.

1 Steph. Com. 161.

A right which a vassal had in land

or some other immovable thing of his lord's, to use the same and take the profits thereof hereditarily, rendering unto his lord such feudal duties and services as belonged to military tenure, the mere property of the soil always remaining unto the lord. Spelman Feuds & Tenures, c.

1.

See Fee, Feod, Feud. This word is used by Blackstone and other writers, as the translation of the Lat. feudum, in preference to the proper English word fee, apparently with the view of more aptly distinguishing the original feudal grant or estate, from the fee of modern law. As the English word feud, however, has long had a peculiar meaning of its own, (supra,) it would seem preferable to employ the Fr. fief as the translation of feudum, especially where reference is had to the feudal law of the continent. This is the term used by Dr. Robertson, in his History of Charles V. See Fief, Feodum.