SG Heritage Dictionary

Gavel [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In law, tribute; toll; custom. [ See Gable .]

2. A small parcel of wheat, rye or other grain, laid together by reapers, consisting of two, three or more handfuls.

3. In England, a provincial word for ground.

4. GAV'EL , for gable or gable-end. [ See Gable .]

Gavel [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. A gable.

2. A small heap of grain, not tied up into a bundle.

3. The mallet of the presiding officer in a legislative body, public assembly, court, masonic body, etc.

4. A mason's setting maul.

5. Tribute; toll; custom. [Obs.] See Gabel.

Gavelet [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. An ancient and special cessavit in Kent, in England, where the custom of gavelkind continues, by which the tenant, if he withdraws his rent and services due to his lord, forfeits his lands and tenements.

2. In London, a writ used in the hustings, given to lords or rents in the city.

Gavelet [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

An ancient special kind of cessavit used in Kent and London for the recovery of rent.

Gavelkind [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

A tenure in England, by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. This species of tenure prevailed in England before the Norman conquest, in many parts of the kingdom, perhaps in the whole realm; but particularly in Kent, where it still exists.

Gavelkind [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still prevails in the county of Kent.

Gavelkind Encyclopedia Britannica

GAVELKIND is a peculiar system of tenure prevailing chiefly in the county of Kent, but found also in other parts of England. In Kent all land is presumed to be holden by this tenure until the contrary is proved. It is more correctly described as socage tenure, subject to the custom of gavelkind. The chief peculiarities of the custom are the following. (L) A tenant can aliene his lands by feoffment at fifteen years of age. (2. ) There is no escheat on attainder for felony, or as it is expressed in the old rhyme—

“The father to the bough,

The son to the plough.”

(3.) Generally the tenant could always dispose of his lands by will. (4.) In case of intestacy the estate descends not to the eldest son but to all the sons in equal shares. “Every son is as great a gentleman as the eldest son is.” It is to this remarkable peculiarity that gavelkind no doubt owes its local popularity. The 4 & 5 Vict. c. 35, for commuting manorial rights in respect of lands of copyhold and customary tenure, contains a clause specially exempting from the operation of the Act “the custom of gavelkind as the same now exists and prevails in the county of Kent.” Gavelkind is one of the most interesting examples of the customary law of England, and it is no doubt correctly traced to the Saxon land-law prevailing before the Conquest. Its survival in this instance in one part of the country is regarded as a concession extorted from the Conqueror by the superior bravery of the men of Kent,

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 10, p. 119
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Gaveloche [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Same as Gavelock.

Gavelock [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

An iron crow.

Gavelock [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. A spear or dart.

2. An iron crow or lever.