Obs. [Etym., sense, and form doubtful. The form lef-silver in 1706, possibly the original, would point to LEAVE sb. Cf. LADY-SILVER (ladesilver), lathe silver (s.v. LATHE sb.1 b).]
1287. Placit. Essexi Rot. 6, in Placit. Abbr. (1811), 212. De … aliis pascentibus … pro quolibet equo ii den. pullano … quinque bidentibus i den. que præstacio vocatur Lessylver.
c. 1300. Battle Abbey Custumals (Camden), 60. Debet etiam quilibet eorum pro quolibet animali ætate duorum annorum vel amplius, dare domino ad festum Sancti Johannis Baptistæ unum denarium quod vocatur Lesselver.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Danger … In the Forest-Law, a Duty paid by the Tenants to the Lord, for leave to plough and sow in the time of Pannage, or Mast-feeding. In some Places, it is call’d Lef-silver, or Lyef-silver.
