Legal Definitions - geld

Definition: A tax paid to the Crown under Anglo-Saxon and Norman kings. Property subject to tax or tribute is also called geldable or gildable.

Example: In medieval England, landowners had to pay a geld to the king in exchange for protection and other services. The amount of geld varied depending on the size and value of the land.

Explanation: The example illustrates how geld was a tax paid by landowners to the king. The term geldable or gildable refers to property that is subject to this tax or tribute.

Example: The Domesday Book, a survey of England conducted in 1086, recorded the amount of geld owed by each landowner to the king.

Explanation: This example shows how geld was an important source of revenue for the Crown, and how it was recorded in official documents like the Domesday Book.