Fossagium

The duty levied on the inhabitants for repairing the moat or ditch around a fortified town. FOSSATORIUM OPERATIO (Lat.) The service or laboring done by the inhabitants and adjoining tenants, for repair and maintenance of the ditches round a city or town. A contribution in lieu of such work, called fossagium, was sometimes paid. Kennett; Cowell. FOSSATUM (Law Lat. from fossa, q. v.) In old English law. A dyke; a bank of earth thrown up out of a ditch. Glanv. lib.

13, c. 34; Bracton, fol. 115; Fleta, lib. 1, c. 24, i 8; St. Westminster II. c. 46.

A ditch or trench. The same with fossa.

Spelman; Rig. Orig. 92b, 198b, 199.

A moat or fosse around an encampment or fortified place.

Spelman.

A canal or cut from a river.

Cowell; Cart. 20 Hen. III.

A place fenced with a ditch.

Cowell.