Legal Definitions - pannage

Definition: Pannage refers to the right of feeding animals, particularly swine, on the nuts and other food that has fallen from trees in a forest. It can also refer to the payment made to the owner of the forest in exchange for this right.

• During the autumn months, the local farmers would bring their pigs to the forest to take advantage of the pannage rights.
• The lord of the manor charged a pannage fee to anyone who wanted to graze their animals in the forest.

These examples illustrate how pannage was a common practice in medieval times, particularly in England. The right to pannage was often granted to local farmers or lords, who would allow their pigs to roam freely in the forest and feed on the nuts and other food that had fallen from the trees. In exchange for this right, the owner of the forest would charge a fee, known as a pannage fee, which was paid by those who wanted to graze their animals in the forest.