Legal Definitions - feu

Definition: Feu (fyoo) is a legal term that refers to a right to land given to a person in exchange for a service to be performed. It is also a type of land tenure in Scots law where a vassal holds land in return for an annual payment in money, crops, or services called feu duty. Feu can also mean a perpetual grant of land to be held in exchange for grain or money, a perpetual lease for a fixed rent, or a piece of land held under a perpetual lease for a fixed rent.

Examples:

• A farmer is granted the right to use a piece of land in exchange for providing a portion of their crops to the landowner each year.
• A vassal holds land from a superior in return for an annual payment of money or services.
• A landowner grants a perpetual lease to a tenant for a fixed rent.

These examples illustrate how feu is a legal arrangement where a person is granted the right to use land in exchange for a service or payment. It was commonly used in Scotland as a type of land tenure, but it has been abolished in modern times.