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

I will give you the law, briefly: descendible estates among us are of two kinds, estates in fee simple and estates in fee tail.

From Project Gutenberg

It is divisible into three species: fee simple; conditional fee; fee tail.

From Project Gutenberg

Estates of inheritance are divided into estates in fee simple, and estates in fee tail.

From Project Gutenberg

Jurors were required to have at least 20 pounds income from freehold land or rents in fee, fee tail, or for life.

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