† ˈhereyeld, herield Old Sc. Law.
Forms: 6 hereȝeld, -ȝeild, (herreȝelda), herield, hyrald, -eild, 7 herrezeld(e, 9 herezeld, (erron. herizeld).
[The same word as OE. hereᵹeld, heregeld, used in Scotland in sense of heriot.]
The render to the superior of the best living animal of a deceased vassal; at an early date commuted for a fixed money payment, and now practically obsolete: see quot. 1861; corresponding to Eng. heriot.
| a 1500 Leg. Quat. Burg. Scot. c. 17 In burgh sall nocht be herde bludewyt naȝit stokisdynt na merchet na hereȝelde [nec merchet nec herieth] na nane suilk maner of thyng. [1508 in D. Black Hist. Brechin (1867) II. 31 A horse as the Herȝeld of..John Carnegy his father.] 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 1986 Our gude gray meir was baittand on the feild And our Land's laird tuik hir, for his hyreild. c 1575 Balfour's Practicks (1754) 200 Na hereȝeld sould be paid. 1597 Skene De Verb. Sign., Herreȝelda, is the best aucht, oxe, kowe, or vther beast quhilk ane husband-man..hes in his possession, the time of his decease, quhilk aucht and suld be given to his Landis-lorde. 1693 Stair Inst. (ed. 2) ii. 111 §80 The Herezeld was found due to the La[dy] Liferenter, though the Defunct had the Room in Steelbow. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. s.v., This exaction has been long unknown in practice..Sometimes, in striking a composition, the value of the herezeld is stated against the vassal in money at a low conversion. |
| attrib. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 3904 From thine-furth thay sall want thair hyrald-hors. 1552 ― Monarche 4734 Than cumis the Landis Lorde, perfors, And cleiks tyll hym ane herield hors. |