Legal Definitions - culvertage

Definition: Culvertage is a historical term that refers to two things:

1. The status of being a villein, which means being a peasant who is bound to work on a lord's land and cannot leave without permission.
2. The condition of becoming a villein or serf through punishment or degradation.

Examples:

• John was born into culvertage, which meant he had to work on the lord's land and couldn't leave without permission.
• After stealing from the lord, William was punished by being put into culvertage, which meant he lost his freedom and became a villein.

These examples show how culvertage was a way of controlling peasants and punishing those who broke the law. It was a form of bondage that limited a person's freedom and forced them to work for someone else.