petit serjeanty

[ pet-ee ]

noun

, Medieval English Law.

1. serjeanty in which the tenant renders services of an impersonal nature to the king, as providing him annually with an implement of war, as a lance or bow.

Word History and Origins

Origin of petit serjeanty¹

Borrowed into English from Anglo-French around 1515–25

Example Sentences

The tenure of petit serjeanty bears a great resemblance to the tenure of grand serjeanty; for as the one is a personal service, so the other is a rent or render, both tending to some purpose relative to the king’s person.

From Project Gutenberg

Petit serjeanty as defined by Littleton, consists in holding lands of the king, by service of rendering to him annually some small implement of war, as a bow, a sword, a lance, an arrow, or the like.

From Project Gutenberg