Sc. Law. [f. SUB- 9 (b) + FEU v.; cf. med.L. subfeodāre.] Of a vassal: To grant (lands) in feu to a subvassal; to subinfeudate. Also absol.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 137. The vassal who thus subfeus, is called the subvassal’s immediate superior.
1758. J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2), 88. In soccage fiefs the vassals subfeued their lands … to hold of themselves.
1826. Bell, Comm. Laws Scot. (ed. 5), I. 24. Property subfeued as building ground in a city. Ibid., 29. When the prohibition to subfeu is effectually created as a real burden on the right of the vassal.
1876. Encycl. Brit., IV. 63/2. Every burgess held direct of the Crown. It was, therefore, impossible to subfeu the burgh lands.
Hence Subfeuing vbl. sb.
1758. J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2), 84. One thing which very much facilitated the progress of alienation, was the practice of subfeuing.
1826. Bell, Comm. Laws Scot. (ed. 5), I. 29. In the New Town of Edinburgh, grants are generally made with a condition against subfeuing.
