Legal Definitions - bordar

Definition: A bordar was a type of tenant in medieval England who held a small piece of land called a bordage. This status was considered less servile than that of a villein tenant.

Example: John was a bordar who lived on a small piece of land and paid rent to the lord of the manor. He was allowed to keep some of the crops he grew and had more freedom than a villein tenant.

Explanation: The example illustrates the definition by showing how a bordar was a type of tenant who held a small piece of land and had a certain status in medieval England. It also highlights the difference between a bordar and a villein tenant, with the former having more freedom and a less servile status.