How Do You Spell CORNAGE?

1. Cornage refers to a practice that existed during medieval times, particularly in England, where a special tax or rent was imposed on lands based on the number of horned cattle (typically cows) owned by the tenant. This term is derived from the word "cornu," meaning horn, suggesting that the tax focused on horned animals.

   Initially, cornage was established as a financial arrangement between tenants and their landlords, allowing tenants to use the lord's land for grazing cattle in exchange for a predetermined number of animals or a certain amount of money. However, cornage gradually developed into an official imposition by the king or a lord, becoming a compulsory tax or rental charge for tenants who owned cattle.

   The purpose of cornage was primarily to generate revenue for the landowners, assisting them in covering their expenses or providing financial support for military campaigns or other ventures. The amount of cornage owed by a tenant was typically determined by assessing the number of cows they possessed, with larger herds resulting in higher payments.

   Over time, as the economy evolved and land ownership became more centralized, cornage lost prominence and was gradually replaced by other forms of taxation or rental systems. Today, cornage remains a historical term, largely unfamiliar to contemporary society, but serves as a reminder of the complex financial arrangements and taxation methods employed in medieval times.

Common Misspellings for CORNAGE

The word "cornage" has its origins in medieval English and derives from the Old French term "cornage" or "cornage de tête". It is ultimately derived from the Latin word "cornu", meaning "horn".

In medieval times, cornage referred to a type of feudal service or tax imposed on landowners for the privilege of pasturing or grazing animals, particularly horned livestock such as cattle. This service or tax was usually paid in the form of a certain number of horned beasts (cows or oxen) or their monetary equivalent.

The term "cornage" served as a way to distinguish this specific type of taxation related to horned animals, in contrast to other types of feudal obligations or payments. Over time, the term became less common, fading out of general usage, and the specific meaning of cornage became less well-known.