subinfeuds
/sʌbˈɪnfjudz/
noun
- In historical English law, the practice of a tenant granting land to a subtenant while retaining a superior interest, creating a chain of feudal obligations.
- The king eventually restricted subinfeuds to prevent the loss of royal control over land.
- Subinfeuds allowed knights to grant portions of their fief to lesser vassals.
- The medieval lord used subinfeuds to create a hierarchy of landholders beneath him.