gavelkind
/ˈɡævəlˌkaɪnd/
noun
- A historical system of land inheritance in which a deceased person's property is divided equally among all of their sons (or, if no sons, among all daughters), rather than passing entirely to the eldest son.
- Under gavelkind, the family farm was split into smaller and smaller plots with each generation.
- The practice of gavelkind was common in parts of England and Ireland before being replaced by primogeniture.
- Historians study gavelkind to understand how land ownership patterns affected medieval communities.
- Any system of inheritance that divides property equally among heirs, especially among children, as opposed to giving everything to one person.
- Some cultures still practice a form of gavelkind, ensuring each child receives a portion of the estate.
- The family's will used a kind of modern gavelkind, leaving equal shares to all three children.
- The lawyer explained that gavelkind principles could be applied through a simple trust arrangement.
Antonyms