gavelkind noun. ['gav(ǝ)lkʌɪnd, -kɪnd] ME.
[from GAVEL noun¹ + KIND noun.]
Hist.
1. A kind of (chiefly Kentish) land-tenure (abolished in 1925) similar to socage but distinguished by the custom of dividing a deceased tenant's land equally among his sons. ME.

2. gen. The custom of dividing a deceased person's property equally among all (male) heirs. M16.
fig.:
■ Donne For God shall impart to us all a mysterious Gavel-kind, a mysterious Equality of fulness of Glory to us all.

3. transf.
a. A Welsh system of property inheritance similar to the Kentish (see sense 1 above). M16.
b. More fully Irish gavelkind. A system of adding a deceased person's land to the common stock and re-dividing the whole area among all members of the tribe or sept. E17.

Comb.:
Gavelkind Act = Gavel Act s.v. GAVEL noun³.

■ gavelkinder noun (rare) a person holding land in gavelkind L16.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲