Fief: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿฐ
Add to dictionary

fief

 

[ fiหf ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medieval land ownership

A fief was a piece of land given to a vassal by a lord in exchange for loyalty and military service.

Synonyms

feudal estate, land grant

Examples of usage

  • The nobleman granted the knight a fief in recognition of his bravery in battle.
  • Many peasants worked the land of the fief in exchange for protection from the lord.
Context #2 | Noun

feudal system

In the feudal system, a fief was the central element of land ownership and power.

Synonyms

domain, manor

Examples of usage

  • The size of a noble's fief determined his wealth and influence in the kingdom.
  • Knights swore allegiance to their lords in exchange for the fiefs they were granted.

Translations

Translations of the word "fief" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น feudo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเคพเค—เฅ€เคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Lehen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ feodum

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั„ะตะพะด

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ lenno

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅฐๅœŸ (ใตใ†ใฉ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท fief

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ feudo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท tฤฑmar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ด‰ํ†  (ๅฐๅœŸ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅู‚ุทุงุนูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ lรฉno

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ lรฉno

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฐๅœฐ (fฤ“ngdรฌ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ fevd

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lรฉn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั„ะตะพะดะฐะปะดั‹า› ะถะตั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒ”แƒแƒ“แƒแƒšแƒฃแƒ แƒ˜ แƒกแƒแƒ›แƒ™แƒ•แƒ˜แƒ“แƒ แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ len

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ feudo

Etymology

The word 'fief' originated from the Old French word 'fieu', meaning 'a fee or estate'. It was commonly used in medieval Europe to refer to land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service. The concept of fiefs played a crucial role in the feudal system, shaping the social and political structure of the time.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,876, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.