HERIOT

In Law, originally a tribute given to the lord of the manor on occasion of his engaging in a war (here or heer-geld). In English law a heriot is a customary service, due for the most part on copyhold tenures, and termed heriot custom, being usually the best beast, whether horse, ox, or cow, that the tenant dies po e ed of, which is due and payable to the lord of the manor. Some heriots, however, are due on reservation in a grant or lease of land; such are termed heriot service. In heriot custom the lord may seize the specific article which he seeks to recover; for heriot service he may either seize or distrain generally on the goods of the tenant on the land. [s. 565]