heriot Meaning, Definition & Usage

Her"i*ot noun
Etymology
AS. heregeatu military equipment, heriot; here army + geatwe, pl., arms, equipments.
Definitions
  1. (Eng. Law) Formerly, a payment or tribute of arms or military accouterments, or the best beast, or chattel, due to the lord on the death of a tenant; in modern use, a customary tribute of goods or chattels to the lord of the fee, paid on the decease of a tenant. Blackstone. Bouvier. Spelman. Blackstone.

Webster 1913