Legal Definitions - bedrip

BEDRIP

BEDRIP is a historical term that refers to a copyhold tenant's service of reaping the landlord's grain. It was a type of labor that was required of tenants in exchange for the right to live on and use the land.

For example, if a farmer rented land from a landlord, the landlord might require the farmer to perform BEDRIP as part of the rental agreement. This would mean that the farmer would have to spend a certain amount of time each year reaping the landlord's grain.

Another example might be a tenant who lived on a large estate. The landlord might require the tenant to perform BEDRIP as a way of maintaining the estate's agricultural production.

The examples illustrate how BEDRIP was a form of labor that was required of tenants in exchange for the right to use the land. It was a way for landlords to ensure that their land was being used productively and that they were receiving some benefit from their tenants' labor.