noun
barony
BAIR-uh-nee/ˈbærəni/
The rank or territorial authority of a baron.
He inherits the barony after the death of his older brother.
Etymology
The ancestor referred to barons collectively or to a baron's qualities. English focuses on what belongs to a baron: the noble rank, estate, or territory.
In context
In medieval Europe, a baron was a landholder who received his territory, called a barony, in exchange for loyalty and military service
More examples
- The map marks the boundaries of the medieval barony.
- Several historical baronies divided the county for administration.
- The family's barony lasted for several generations.
Forms
barony · baronies
Similar words
- estate
- Names property without necessarily implying a noble title.
- peerage
- The broader system or status of titled nobility.