Legal Definitions - gavelbred

Definition: Gavelbred (gav-uhl-bred) is a historical term used to describe rent that was paid in the form of bread, corn, or other provisions instead of money.

Example: In medieval times, tenants would often pay their landlords gavelbred instead of money. For example, a tenant might owe their landlord a certain amount of wheat or barley each year instead of paying a fixed amount of money.

Explanation: The example illustrates how gavelbred was used as a form of rent payment in the past. Instead of paying money, tenants would provide their landlords with a portion of their crops or other provisions. This was a common practice in agricultural societies where money was scarce, and goods were often used as a form of currency.