headright

noun

1

: a grant (as of money or land) formerly given one who fulfilled certain conditions relating especially to settling and developing land (as in Virginia in 1619 and in Texas in 1839)

2

: a right belonging to member of an American Indian tribe to receive a per-capita share in the distribution of income earned by the tribal trust fund (as from the sale or lease of mineral rights) or a share of the fund on its termination

also : the right of a member to a share of tribal property

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