estovers

[ e-stoh-verz ]

plural noun

, Law.

1. necessaries allowed by law, as wood and timber to a tenant or alimony to a spouse.

estovers

/ ɛˈstəʊvəz /

plural noun

1. law a right allowed by law to tenants of land to cut timber, esp for fuel and repairs

Word History and Origins

Origin of estovers¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, noun use of Old French estovoir, estover to be necessary ≪ Latin est opus there is need

Word History and Origins

Origin of estovers¹

C15: from Anglo-French, plural of estover, n use of Old French estovoir to be necessary, from Latin est opus there is need

Example Sentences

Common of estovers is the liberty of taking the necessary wood for a house or farm from another's estate.

From Project Gutenberg

The various kinds of estovers were thus known as house-bote, cart or plough-bote, hedge or hay-bote, and fire-bote respectively.

From Project Gutenberg

Copyholders have similar rights over the land they occupy and over the waste of the manor, in which case the rights are known as “Commons of estovers.”

From Project Gutenberg

Their rights of usufruct, grazing, pannage, estovers, turbary and piscary survived for many centuries before being terminated: first informally, later in wholesale acts of enclosure.

From The Guardian

Moreover, the statutes have never enabled an inclosure to be made against commoners entitled to estovers or turbary.

From Project Gutenberg