gavelkind

[ gav-uh l-kahynd ]

/ ˈgæv əlˌkaɪnd /

(originally) a tenure of land in which the tenant was liable for a rental in money or produce rather than for labor or military service.

a customary system of land tenure whose chief feature was equal division of land among the heirs of the holder.

the land so held.

Origin of gavelkind

1175–1225; Middle English gavelkinde, gavlikind, Old English gafel gavel² + ( ge)cynd kind²

gavarnie, gavaskar, gave, gavel, gavel-to-gavel, gavelkind, gavial, gavin, gavotte, gaw, gawain

Equal-partition rules, like gavelkind or parage, lead in an exactly opposite direction.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 5 |Various
In the Saxon times, land was divided equally among all the male children of the deceased, according to the custom of gavelkind.

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part A. |David Hume
It is taken from notes to the third edition of Robinson's valuable work on Gavelkind, p. 391.

Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 101, October 4, 1851 |Various
The gavelkind or tributary tenure there was subjected to equal partition among the heirs.

Villainage in England |Paul Vinogradoff

It is more correctly described as socage tenure, subject to the custom of gavelkind.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 |Various

gavelkind

/ (ˈɡævəlˌkaɪnd) /

a former system of land tenure peculiar to Kent based on the payment of rent to the lord instead of the performance of services by the tenant

the land subject to such tenure

English law (formerly) land held under this system

C13: from Old English gafol tribute + gecynd kind ²