Gavelkind Law and Legal Definition
Gavelkind was an English system of land tenure from Anglo-Saxon times to 1925. It was tenure of land in which the tenant was liable for a rental in money or produce rather than for labor or military service. It was legally abolished in Britain in 1925.
Gavelkind descent of lands in Ireland, existed as an incident to the custom of tanistry till the 5th year of James I. [Orndoff v. Turman, 29 Va. 200 (Va. 1830)].
