droit du seigneur

[ French drwa dy se-nyœr ]
/ French drwa dü sɛˈnyœr /

noun

the supposed right claimable by a feudal lord to have sexual relations with the bride of a vassal on her first night of marriage.

Origin of droit du seigneur

1815–25; < French: literally, right of the lord

Words nearby droit du seigneur

British Dictionary definitions for droit du seigneur

droit du seigneur
/ (French drwa dy sɛɲœr) /

noun

in feudal times, the right of a lord to have sexual intercourse with a vassal's bride on her wedding night

Word Origin for droit du seigneur

from French, literally: the right of the lord