Law (a) A customary rent, required of individual and corporate tenants or assessed on units of land by a feudal superior or the crown, in some instances conceived as a payment in commutation of guard service or as a tax for its maintenance, for meeting the expenses of the sheriff, etc.; also, the obligation to pay such a rent or tax; also, the right to collect it; (b) a fine paid to redeem cattle seized by officials of the crown.