1. Plural of neif; a female serf or bondwoman in medieval feudal society.
Usage: archaic; historical

Examples

• The manor records listed the neifs who worked the lord's demesne.
• Unlike free peasants, neifs were bound to the land and could not leave without permission.
• Medieval documents distinguish between neifs and other classes of unfree laborers.
• The status of neifs was hereditary, passed down through generations.
• Neifs had few legal rights and were considered property of the feudal lord.