Pronunciation: [fjˈuː djˈuːti] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "feu duty" can be a bit confusing at first glance. Pronounced /fjuː ˈdjuːti/, the first part of the word is spelled with the letters "f-e-u", which are French in origin and often used in Scottish legal terminology. The second part of the word, "duty", is spelled with the letters "d-u-t-y", which is the more common English spelling. Together, "feu duty" refers to a Scottish land tax.
Feu duty, also referred to as ground rent or feu-duty, is a term used in Scottish property law and refers to a recurring payment made by the owner of a property to the superior, who is often the original landowner or the government. It is a unique concept in Scottish law that is associated with feudal land tenure.
Feu duty is a legal obligation that is typically imposed on the owner of a property that has been conveyed on a long leasehold basis. It serves as a form of rent for the land on which the property is built. The payment of feu duty distinguishes Scotland's land tenure system from other jurisdictions.
The terms of feu duty are usually established in the original land grant or property deed. It can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the property's value and is paid annually, biannually, or in other agreed-upon intervals. Failure to pay feu duty can result in legal consequences, including the potential for forfeiture of the property.
While feu duty may still exist in certain areas of Scotland, it has become less common in modern times. The feudal land tenure system has largely been replaced by other forms of property ownership, such as freehold or leasehold.
The term "feu duty" has its origin in Scotland and is associated with the feudal system that was prevalent in medieval Europe.
The word "feu", derived from the Old French term "fief", refers to a feudal land tenure system where land was granted to individuals in exchange for certain obligations or duties. In Scotland, the feu system replaced the more traditional "ward holding" system for land tenure.
The word "duty" refers to the responsibilities or obligations attached to a particular piece of land granted under the feu system. These duties typically involved the payment of an annual rent or other forms of service, such as providing military support, maintaining the land, or contributing to the local community.
Over time, the term "feu duty" came to be used specifically to describe the financial payments associated with land tenure under the feu system in Scotland.
