heriot

Meanings

1. The return of military equipment.
2. A payment made to a lord on the death of a tenant.
3. A tribute.

1. To pay the heriot on (a piece of real estate) after the death of the previous tenant (such as one's parent, uncle, aunt, or grandparent).

1. A surname.
2. A scattered settlement in Scottish Borders council area, Scotland, historically part of Midlothian (OS grid ref NT3952 to NT4054).
3. A settlement in West Otago, New Zealand.

Etymology

From Old English hereġeatwa (“military equipment, army gear”). Per Etymonline: "An Anglo-Saxon service of weapons, loaned by the lord to his retainer and repayable to him upon the retainer's death; sense transferred by 13c. to a feudal due upon the death of a tenant, payable to his lord in beasts."