fief

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical: land, revenue, or another right held from a feudal superior in return for allegiance and service

   The vassal held the fief on condition that he provide armed service to the lord.

2. 2
   noun

   a territory, organization, or area of responsibility treated as one person's exclusive domain

   The director guarded the regional office as his personal fief.

Simplified etymology

Fief is recorded from the early 17th century and denotes a feudal estate. It is linked with fee, which came from Old French feu or fief and originally meant a fief before developing through several later senses.

Through Old French fief and Medieval Latin fevum or feudum, probably from a Germanic word related to Frankish and Proto-Germanic fehu, 'cattle, movable wealth, or property.' It is historically related to fee, feud, and feoff; the figurative sense extends feudal control to a modern domain.

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