gavelkind

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An English system of land tenure from Anglo-Saxon times to 1926 that provided for the equal division of land among all qualified heirs.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Originally, in old English law, the tenure of land let out for rent, including in that term money, labor, and provisions, but not military service; also, the land so held. The most important incident of this tenure was that upon the death of the tenant all his sons inherited equal shares; if he left no sons, the daughters; if neither, then all his brothers inherited equal shares. When the feudal system introduced the law of primogeniture, the county of Kent and some other localities were privileged to retain this ancient custom of inheritance.
2. n. Hence In general use, land in Great Britain or Ireland, or an estate therein, which by custom having the force of law is inheritable by all the sons together, and therefore subject to partition, instead of going exclusively to the eldest. The word has been used in the following different senses, of which only the first and second are strictly correct: socage tenure in England before the Conquest (see socage); immemorial socage tenure in the county of Kent, England; the body of customs allowed on ancient socage lands in Kent; the customs of partible descents in Kent; any custom of partition in any place. Elton.

Wiktionary

1. n. historical a system of inheritance associated with the county of Kent in England whereby, at the death of a tenant, intestate estate is divided equally among all his sons; also, a similar system employed in Ireland

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (O. Eng. Law) A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still prevails in the county of Kent.