Law Dictionary Definitions

feudal,adj.1. Of, relating to, or growing out of feudalism <feudal law>.2. Of or relating to a feud <feudal tenure>. — Also spelled (archaically) feodal. Cf. ALLODIAL.[Blacks Law 8th]

feud,n. Hist. 1.A heritable estate in land conveyed from a feudal superior to a grantee or tenant, held on the condition of rendering services to the superior. “It is believed that the forms feud and fief appear in England but late in the day under the influence of foreign books; they never became terms of…

feu charter.Scots law. The charter creating a feu tenure.[Blacks Law 8th]

feuar (fyoo-<<schwa>>r), n. Scots law. One who holds a feu. Cf. FEU; VASSAL.[Blacks Law 8th]

feu annual.Scots law. The yearly return generated by a feu.[Blacks Law 8th]

feu (fyoo), n.[fr. Law Latin feudum “a fee”] 1. A right to land given to a person in exchange for service to be performed. 2.Scots law. Land held by a vassal in return for an annual payment in money, crops, or services (called feu duty). • This type of tenure was abolished in Scotland in…

fettering of property.The act of making the disposition or ownership of property more complex so that those with separate interests must cooperate if they are to handle their interests reasonably. • Fettering of property occurs whenever ownership is split into two or more interests, as when present and future interests are divided or when a…

fetter,n. (usu. pl.) A chain or shackle for the feet. — fetter,vb.[Blacks Law 8th]

feticide (fee-t<<schwa>>-sId).1. The act or an instance of killing a fetus, usu. by assaulting and battering the mother; esp., the act of unlawfully causing the death of a fetus. 2. An intentionally induced miscarriage. — Also spelled foeticide. — Also termed child destruction. Cf. INFANTICIDE (1). — feticidal,adj.[Blacks Law 8th]

fetus. A developing but unborn mammal, esp. in the latter stages of development. — Also spelled foetus. Cf. EMBRYO; ZYGOTE.[Blacks Law 8th]