Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A mode of tenure that prevailed among various Celtic tribes, according to which the tanist, or holder of honors and lands, held them only for life, and his successor was fixed by election.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun In Ireland, a tenure of family lands by which the proprietor had only a life estate, to which he was admitted by election.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun historical A form of tenure, in ancient Scotland and Ireland, whereby succession was passed to an elected member of the same extended family.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From tanist +‎ -ry.

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