Domesday Book

noun

Domes·​day Book ˈdümz-ˌdā- How to pronounce Domesday Book (audio) ˈdōmz- How to pronounce Domesday Book (audio)
: a record of a survey of English lands and landholdings made by order of William the Conqueror about 1086

Examples of Domesday Book in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nyetimber, based in West Sussex, is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 As in, it was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 July 2025 In 1086, William commissioned the Domesday Book, which recorded all of Britain’s lands and property owners—now the oldest government record in the United Kingdom’s National Archives. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from domesday doomsday

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Domesday Book was in 1591

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Cite this Entry

“Domesday Book.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Domesday%20Book. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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