ethell (ethel)

[AS. ēthel, inheritance, property, home: see allodium, udal.] In AngloS axon times, the domain or allotment of an individual. Whatever land a man could call his own, whether it was the house and enclosure of the free Townsman or the domain of the king or great man, was his ethel or alod. K. E. Digby , Hist. Law of Real Prop., p. 11. The land held in full ownership might be either an ethel, an inherited or otherwise acquired portion of original allotment, or an estate created by legal proce out of the public land. Stubbs, Const. Hist., § 36. ethel2+ (eth'el), a. See athel2. etheling, n. See atheling.