O.E. Law. [OE. lǽn: see LOAN.] An estate held as a benefice.
a. 988. in Birch, Cart. Sax., III. 329. Þa ʓewat Eadric ær Ælfheh cwideleas & Ælfeh feng to his læne.
a. 1000. Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 115/36. Precarium, landeslæn.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. App. K. 371. National property at the disposal of the king, to be distributed by him as laens (loans) or benefices.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., I. i. § 2. 17. The person having the ‘laen’ possessing only the usufructuary enjoyment to a greater or less extent.
b. Comb.: læn-land, land held as ‘læn’; læn-right, beneficiary right.
985. in Kemble, Codex Dipl., III. 217. Fif hida ðe Oswald … bocaþ Eadrice … swa swa he hit ær hæfde to lænlande.
1872. E. W. Robertson, Hist. Ess., 117. Laenlands, or benefices. Ibid., 153. In property held by Læn-right possessions, privileges and obligations devolved upon the eldest born.
1874–5. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. v. 77. Either bookland or folkland could be,… under the name of lænland, held by free cultivators.
