marchet

noun

mar·​chet

ˈmärchə̇t

variants or marcheta

märˈkātə

or less commonly merchet

ˈmərchə̇t

plural -s

: a fee paid to a British feudal lord by his tenant for marrying off a daughter or son especially to one outside the lord's jurisdiction or for the lord's waiving the droit du seigneur

Word History

Etymology

Middle English merchet, from Anglo-French, from Latin mercatus trade, market place

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