maritage

maritage noun feudal history

1. the right of a lord to choose the spouses of his wards
2. a sum paid to a lord in lieu of his exercising this right

Word Origin for maritage C16: from Medieval Latin marītāgium, a Latinized form of French mariage marriage Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012