E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Cop’yhold Estate.
Land which a tenant holds [or rather, held] without any deed of transfer in his own possession. His only document is a copy of the roll made by the steward of the manor from the court-roll kept in the manor-house.
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“The villein took an oath of fealty to his lord for the cottage and land which he enjoyed from his bounty… . These tenements were suffered to descend to their children … and thus the tenure of copyhold was established.”—Lingard: England (vol. ii. chap. i. p. 27, note).
