droit du seigneur

[ French drwa dy se-nyœr ]

noun

1. the supposed right claimable by a feudal lord to have sexual relations with the bride of a vassal on her first night of marriage.

droit du seigneur

/ drwa dy sɛɲœr /

noun

1. in feudal times, the right of a lord to have sexual intercourse with a vassal's bride on her wedding night

Word History and Origins

Origin of droit du seigneur¹

1815–25; < French: literally, right of the lord

Word History and Origins

Origin of droit du seigneur¹

from French, literally: the right of the lord

Example Sentences

In a lawsuit, documented here, Rogers is charged with exercising what might be called droit du seigneur.

From The Daily Beast

More than this, they enjoy a sort of "droit du seigneur," and no man's wife or daughter is safe from them.

From Project Gutenberg

The Peers have, in fact, a political droit du seigneur in England.

From Project Gutenberg