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Oxfordshire Family History Society

Transcribed Wills - Glossary


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Word

Meaning

MoneyAll sums are in pounds, shillings & pence (£sd), written (before decimalisation) as £x/y/z for x pounds, y shillings and z pence
 A Pound was 20 shillings, a Shilling was 12 pence.
 A Sovereign was a gold coin worth one pound (£1/-/-) -- also Half-sovereign (10/-).
 A Mark was 13 shillings & 4 pence (13/4), two-thirds of a pound.
 A Noble was 6 shillings & 8 pence (6/8), one third of a pound.
 A Spur-royal was a gold coin worth fifteen shillings (15/-)
 A Guinea was a gold coin worth one pound & one shilling (1/1/-).
 A Crown was five shillings (5/-) -- also Half-a-crown (2/6).
 A Florin was two shillings -- a Victorian attempt at decimalisation.
 A Groat was four pence (d).
Weights & Measures
Stone14 lb
Quarter28 lb (¼ hundredweight) [or] 8 bushels (perhaps originally ¼ ton of corn)
Hundredweight (cwt)112 lb -- one twentieth of a ton.
Bushel8 gallons (dry measure)
Peck2 gallons (dry measure), a quarter of a bushel
Acre4840 square yards
Rood¼ acre
Perch5½ yards [or] 30¼ sq yds (1/160 acre).
Furlong220 yards.
 
AdvowsonThe right of appointing a clergyman to a church benefice.
AndironsIron bars to support logs in a fire. Firedogs.
AnticipationPayment in advance of receipt. Usually telling Trustees not to allow it.
ArmigerA person entitled to bear arms. An Esquire.
ArrasRich tapestry, wall-hanging.
AssartForest land reclaimed for agriculture.
BacksidePremises at the back of a house.
BailiwickThe jurisdiction of a Bailiff.
BaldHairless or featherless; an animal having white markings on face or head.
Boulting [Mill]Machine for sifting bran from flour.
BowerAn inner apartment or private room; a dwelling.
Bro(a)chProbably a roasting-spit.
BulchynBull-calf
BushelSee Weights & Measures.
CalamancoSatin-twilled woollen fabric with chequered or brocade design woven in.
Catall(s)As Chattels, but more personal implications - clothes etc. Also alt sp of Cattle.
Chafing dishDish for cooking over hot coals.
ChaforneAs Chafing dish.
ChamberUsually a bedroom.
ChargerLarge flat dish, as for a joint of meat. Not a war-horse.
ChilverEwe-lamb, maybe for breeding.
CiverShallow tub -- see also Dough Keever
CloseSmall enclosed field or other area.
CofferChest for holding money or valuables.
ConsolsConsolidated Annuities -- government securities.
ConygeareDomestic rabbit-warren (various spellings)
CovertureThe status of a married woman considered as being under the protection of her husband. Not a chocolate coating.
DemiseTransfer by lease.
DiaperLinen (or cotton) cloth with a square or diamond pattern.
DistraintSeizure of goods etc in payment of an overdue debt. "Sending in the bailiffs".
Dough keeverShallow tub with a dished lid for mixing and kneading bread.
EyotA small island (also Ait).
FeoffTo grant possession of a fief (qv) or property in land.
FeoffeeThe person invested with a fief (qv).
FiefLand held in return for feudal service etc.
FlitchSide of bacon.
Flock mattressA mattress stuffed with wool - cheaper (and harder) than feathers.
Fryse/FriezeRough heavy woollen cloth.
Fulling-millA mill in which new woollen cloth was cleansed and scoured to thicken it.
GoodyWife of a yeoman - more generally, a respected elderly village-woman.
Guineasee Money.
GarnerGranary, or more generally a store of anything.
HeiferYoung cow
HereditamentAny property that may pass to a heir.
HeriotA fine due to the Lord of the Manor on the death of a tenant. Originally his best beast or chattel.
HiglerA trader, often one who travelled.
HollandLinen fabric, originally fine, later coarse and unbleached.
Hogg, HoggerelYearling sheep, as yet unshorn.
HomestallHomestead, Farmyard.
HotchpotA commixture of property in order to secure an equable division amongst children.
HundredweightSee Weights & Measures.
ItemLatin for "Also" (when used at the beginning of a bequest).
Joined/JoynedOf furniture, constructed with proper woodworking joints.
Joint TenantHas non-specific share in property which cannot be left by will but passes automatically to survivor(s). Cf "Tenant in Common".
JointureProperty transferred by husband to wife at marriage, for her use after his death.
Keeversee Dough keever.
KilderkinSmall cask. Liquid measure of 18 gallons.
KirtleGown or outer petticoat.
Land/Half-landOne (or half) strip of an open (shared) field.
Latten/LattyneBrass or similar alloy; sometimes tin-plate.
LeasowePasture, Meadow.
LeyArable land under grass or pasture.
LibertyArea within which certain privileges (legal or ecclesiastical) may be enjoyed.
LiquidateTo turn assets into cash; To pay debts.
LockramType of coarse linen.
MaltGrain (usually barley) sprouted and dried. The basis of ale & beer.
Marksee Money.
MaslinMixed grain (especially rye & wheat).
Mazard bowlperhaps Mazarine Dish, a cooking dish set inside a larger dish, like a double-boiler.
Mead(e)Meadow.
MessuageDwelling with offices and adjoining land.
Milch (cow)Cow kept for milking
MoietyA part -- usually half.
Month's mindCommemoration (by Masses) one month after death or burial.
Noblesee Money.
Parcel-giltPartly gilded.
PartletNeck-covering or ruff. A kind of shirt.
PeasonsPlural of pease (pea)
PeckSee Weights & Measures.
PeculiarA parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the Diocese within which it lies.
per stirpesIf one of a group of legatees dies, only his/her share is divided among his/her own children, rather than the whole being reallocated.
Pillow-berePillowcase.
PosnetSmall cooking-pot.
PosyA small bunch of flowers. A motto (eg engraved inside a ring).
PottingerSmall bowl.
PressA cupboard or shelved recess.
QuarterSee Weights & Measures.
Queen Anne's BountyFund (started 1703) for helping to support C of E clergy in poor parishes.
QuernHand-operated stone mill for grinding corn, malt etc.
RelictWidow (or widower, but rarely so used).
RenunciationOfficial surrender of Rights.
SallowA variety of willow, the timber having specialised uses.
SaltSalt-cellar - a container for salt.
Sart(e)sSee Assart.
SarumOld name for Salisbury.
Save harmlessProtect or indemnify [someone] against harm (often financial)
ShepickA pitchfork, hayfork.
SirUsed as an honorific for local priests (as well as for Knights and Baronets)
SitheScythe.
Solar/SollerAn upstairs room.
Spur-royalsee Money.
Staddle(-stone)Mushroom-shaped stone construct used to support hay-ricks etc, to keep ground-damp and rats out.
SteerYoung ox or bull-calf, usually castrated, 2-4 years old.
StellProbably portable enclosures for stock.
StoneSee Weights & Measures.
Stryke, Strick(le) etcMeasure of grain or malt; a tool for levelling the top of such a measure.
Table-boardA table-top. Tables commonly came with separate trestles.
Tail maleLimitation of inheritance to males.
Tallow-chandlerDealer in candles etc.
TegSecond-year sheep.
Tenant in CommonOwns specific share in property which can be left by will. Cf "Joint Tenant".
TenementDwelling or habitation, or part thereof. A holding.
TheaveYoung ewe.
TickingThe cloth casing of a mattress, stuffed with feathers, flock etc.
TreenSmall household articles made of wood.
TrentalSeries of 30 Requiem Masses.
Tusser, TussoreFawn silk cloth.
Twill(y)clothWoven cloth.
WainscotOak panelling on an interior wall.
Wainscot chestAn oak-panelled chest.
WeaningNewly-weaned (farm) animal.
WetherCastrated ram.
WortMalt liquor - part of the brewing process.
Yard LandA measure of land area, often about 30 acres.
YeltYoung sow.
 

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