fee tail

noun

1. fee4a

fee tail

noun

1. property law
   1. a freehold interest in land restricted to a particular line of heirs
   2. an estate in land subject to such restriction Compare fee simple

Word History and Origins

Origin of fee tail¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French

Word History and Origins

Origin of fee tail¹

C15: from Anglo-French fee tailé fee (or fief) determined, from taillier to cut

Example Sentences

Edward Shelley was a tenant in fee tail general.

From Project Gutenberg

Humane masters were denied the right to emancipate their slaves, and the latter were prohibited from owning real property in fee simple or fee tail.

From Project Gutenberg

The grantees in their turn settled these holdings in fee tail on the oldest son in accordance with the law of primogeniture.

From Project Gutenberg

Former judge Sir Thomas Littleton wrote a legal textbook describing tenancies in dower; the tenures of socage, knight's service, serjeanty, and burgage; estates in fee simple, fee tail, and fee conditional.

From Project Gutenberg

A fee tail was often given to a man and the issue of his body.

From Project Gutenberg