corvée

noun

cor·​vée ˈkȯr-ˌvā 

kȯr-ˈvā

1

: unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord

2

: labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin corrogata, from Latin, feminine of corrogatus, past participle of corrogare to collect, requisition, from com- + rogare to ask — more at right

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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