{{Short description|Fine paid to the lord in medieval England}} {{One source|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use British English|date=November 2022}} In medieval England, {{lang|en-emodeng|'''childwite'''}} (or {{lang|en-emodeng|'''childwit'''}}) was a fine levied by the feudal lord on the reputed father when an unmarried unfree woman gave birth to a child. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' cites the following use of the term from 1672: {{lang|en-emodeng|"Within the Mannor of Writtle in Com. Essex, every reputed Father of a Bastard gotten there, pays to the Lord for a Fine three shillings four pence, and the custome is there also called Childwit."}}<ref name = OED">{{Cite OED |childwite |access-date= 20 November 2022}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== See also == * Manorialism
Category:Fines (penalties) Category:Slavery in England Category:Society of England Category:Feudalism in England Category:English legal terminology Category:English family law
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