rerefief

R1E1R1E1F4I1E1F4
/ˈɹɪə(ɹ)fiːf/

noun

A fief held by an intermediary or subtenant

Similar
subfief
OriginFrench arrière-fief →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounrerefief (plural rerefiefs)

plural rerefiefs

  1. historicalScots lawA fief held by an intermediary or subtenant

    by these means the feodal polity was greatly extended; these inferior feudatories (who held what are called in the Scots law "rerefiefs") being under similar obligations of fealty

    1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC

    Synonyms: subfief

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA fief held by an intermediary or subtenant

Similar
subfief

Origin

  1. Frencharrière-fief
  2. Englishrerefief

From French arrière-fief. See rear (“hinder”), and fief.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rerefief. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rerefief

MLA

“rerefief.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rerefief. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rerefief,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rerefief.

Source: rerefief on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.