Legal Definitions - frank-tenant

Definition: A freeholder. Also known as francus tenens.

Example: In medieval England, a frank-tenant was a free man who held land directly from the king or a lord. They were not bound to any feudal obligations and had the right to pass on their land to their heirs.

Explanation: The example illustrates that a frank-tenant was a freeholder who owned land without any obligations to a feudal lord. They were considered to be of higher status than other tenants who were bound to their lords. The term "francus tenens" comes from the Latin words for "free holding."