This section is from "Every Woman's Encyclopaedia". Also available from Amazon: Every Woman's Encyclopaedia.
Dower. - An estate for life to which a woman is entitled on her husband's death in one-third part in value of the freehold.
Kmblements. - -Growing crops produced annually by the labour of the cultivator.
Estate. - A landholder's interest in the land of which he is tenant; a man's lands in the popular sense; also the whole of any person's valuable interest in land or goods. A man's whole " estate" is equivalent to all his " property."
Fee Simple. - A freehold estate of inheritance absolute and unqualified.
Freebench. - A right analogous to dower which exists in many manors.
Gavelkind. - Before 1066 the general custom of the realm, which still obtains in Kent.
Hereditaments. - Includes lands and tenements and whatsoever may be inherited. It therefore comprises heirlooms.
Jointure. - Originally a settlement of land in the husband and wife as joint tenants, now an estate limited to the wife.
Rackrent. - Full annual value of the property.
Tenure. - The mode of holding property; the relation existing between the tenant and his lord.
 
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