Bovate meaning

A bovate is a unit of land area that is typically enough to support one ox and is equivalent to one eighth of a hide.


Bovate definitions

Word backwards etavob
Part of speech The word "bovate" is a noun.
Syllabic division bo-vate
Plural The plural of the word bovate is bovates.
Total letters 6
Vogais (3) o,a,e
Consonants (3) b,v,t

Bovate: Understanding the Basics

Bovate is a historical unit of land measurement that originated in medieval England. It was used to assess the value of land for taxation purposes, especially when determining the amount of tax owed to the lord of the manor. One bovate was typically equal to the amount of land that could be plowed by one ox in a single season.

The Significance of Bovate

Bovate played a crucial role in the feudal system, as it helped determine the economic status and obligations of landholders. The size of a bovate could vary depending on the region, but it generally ranged from 15 to 20 acres of arable land. Landholders who owned a bovate of land were known as bovaters and were required to provide labor and services to the lord of the manor in exchange for the right to cultivate the land.

Evolution and Decline

As feudalism began to decline and agricultural practices evolved, the use of bovate as a unit of measurement became less common. In modern times, bovate is mainly of historical interest and is no longer used as a standard unit of land measurement. However, the concept of assessing land value based on its productive capacity remains relevant in the field of land economics and taxation.

The Legacy of Bovate

Although bovate is no longer a practical unit of measurement, its legacy lives on in the historical records and documents that provide insights into medieval land tenure systems. Studying the use of bovate can offer valuable information about the organization of agricultural land, the distribution of wealth, and the power dynamics of feudal societies.


Bovate Examples

  1. The farmer owned a bovate of land where he grew his crops.
  2. In medieval England, a bovate was roughly equal to the amount of land that could be plowed by one ox in a season.
  3. The landlord rented out a bovate of pasture to the tenant farmer.
  4. A bovate was sometimes used as a unit of measurement for land tax purposes.
  5. The bovate was a common unit of land measurement in feudal societies.
  6. The peasant worked a bovate of land in exchange for protection from the lord.
  7. The size of a bovate could vary depending on the quality of the land.
  8. The bovate was often used as a way to assess the wealth and status of a family.
  9. The manor was divided into smaller units called bovates, each assigned to a different tenant.
  10. The bovate was an important unit of measurement in feudal land tenure systems.


Most accessed

Search the alphabet

  • #
  • Aa
  • Bb
  • Cc
  • Dd
  • Ee
  • Ff
  • Gg
  • Hh
  • Ii
  • Jj
  • Kk
  • Ll
  • Mm
  • Nn
  • Oo
  • Pp
  • Qq
  • Rr
  • Ss
  • Tt
  • Uu
  • Vv
  • Ww
  • Xx
  • Yy
  • Zz
  • Updated 14/06/2024 - 15:46:16