fief

UK: /ˈfiːf/ US: (fēf )

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fief  (fēf ), n. 

1. World History a fee or feud held of a feudal lord;
   a tenure of land subject to feudal obligations.
2. World History a territory held in fee.
3. World History fiefdom.

• Gmc; compare Old High German fihu, Old English feoh cattle, property; akin to Latin pecū flock of sheep, pecus cattle, pecūnia wealth
• French, variant of Old French fieu, fie, cognate with Anglo-French fe fee
• 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fief, feoff / fiːf/ noun

1. (in feudal Europe) the property or fee granted to a vassal for his maintenance by his lord in return for service

Etymology: 17th Century: from Old French fie, of Germanic origin; compare Old English fēo cattle, money, Latin pecus cattle, pecūnia money, Greek pokos fleece