fief

fief

noun \ˈfēf\

Definition of FIEF

1

: a feudal estate : fee

2

: something over which one has rights or exercises control <a politician's fief>

— fief·dom \-dəm\ noun

Examples of FIEF

1. <the logistics of the relief effort is the director's fief>

Origin of FIEF

French, from Old French — more at fee

First Known Use: circa 1611

Related to FIEF

Synonyms

area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, field, fiefdom, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk

Related Words

frontier; study, subject; territory, turf; occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation; ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension(s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width; subfield, subspecialty

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, historiography, paladin

Rhymes with FIEF

beef, brief, chief, grief, kef, leaf, lief, reef, sheaf, thief

fief

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In European feudalism, a vassal's source of income, granted to him by his lord in exchange for his services. The fief usually consisted of land and the labor of peasants who were bound to cultivate it. The income it provided supported the vassal, who fought for his lord as a knight. Dignities, offices, and money rents were also given in fief.