sb. [f. SUB- 9 + FIEF sb. Cf. F. sous-fief.] A fief that is held of an intermediary instead of the original feoffor; spec. in Germany, a minor state, holding of a more important state instead of directly of the German crown.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 515. He consented that Duke Ulrich should take possession of Würtenberg as a sub-fief of Austria.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 31 Jan., 3/1. In the German Empire the title of ‘Lord’ is connected mostly with subfiefs such as Rügen.
So Subfief v. [cf. obs. F. soubsfiefver, Cotgr.] trans., to grant as a subfief.
1903. E. MacCulloch, Guernsey Folk Lore, 61. In process of time they [sc. lands] came to be sub-fieffed by their possessors.
