Legal Definitions - oxgang

Definition: An oxgang is a historical unit of land measurement that refers to the amount of land that an ox can plow in one year, typically ranging from 12 to 15 acres. It was used to assess land for tax purposes and was equal to one-eighth of a carucate. Other terms for oxgang include oxgate and bovata terrae.

• John inherited an oxgang of land from his father, which he used to grow crops and raise livestock.
• The lord of the manor required all tenants to pay a tax of one oxgang per year.

These examples illustrate how an oxgang was used as a unit of land measurement and taxation in historical times. It was a way to determine the amount of land that a farmer could cultivate with the help of an ox, which was an important agricultural tool.