estovers

estovers

1. plural of estover

estovers pl (plural only) (law, historical)

1. An estover; an allowance made from an estate for a person's support.
2. An allowance or alimony granted to a divorced woman, taken from the husband's estate for her support.
3. An allowance of wood made to a tenant.
4. The freedom of a tenant to take necessary wood from the land occupied by that tenant.
   • 1770, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England:

     It seemed to have been generally understood that the lord could not approve, where the commoners had a right of turbary, piscary, of digging sand, or of taking any species of estovers upon the common.

• bote

• A Law Dictionary and Glossary: Containing Full Definitions of the Principal Terms of the Common and Civil Law, page 565

• sets over, setovers, oversets