1. a form of land tenure in medieval England where land was held by copy of the court roll
Usage: historical; legal

Examples

• The peasant held his land by copyhold rather than freehold.
• Copyhold tenure was common in medieval English manors.
• Under copyhold, the tenant’s rights were recorded in the manor court rolls.
• The lord of the manor could not easily evict a copyhold tenant.
• Copyhold was gradually abolished in England during the 19th and 20th centuries.