mesne lord

noun

: a feudal lord who holds land as tenant of a superior (such as a king) but who is lord to his own tenant

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mesne lord was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near mesne lord

Cite this Entry

“Mesne lord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesne%20lord. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!