Pronunciation: [fjˈuːɪd͡ʒ] (IPA) 
The word "feuage" is a rare and outdated term, often used to refer to the foliage of trees. The phonetic transcription of this word is /ˈfjuːɪdʒ/, with the stress on the first syllable. The combination of letters "eu" in this word is pronounced like the English word "you," while the "age" at the end is pronounced like "udge." However, due to its infrequent use, it is not a word that is commonly encountered in modern language.
Feuage is a term that refers to a medieval system of land tenure or landholding. It originated in France and was later adopted in other European countries, including Scotland. In this system, individuals or communities would hold land from a feudal lord in exchange for payment, usually in the form of annual rent or a type of tax called a "feu-duty."
The term "feuage" is derived from the French word "feu," which means "fire" or "candle." This is because the rent or feu-duty paid by the tenant was often calculated based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in their property. Each hearth was associated with a specific amount of rent, and the calculation of feuage was used to determine the total rent owed.
The practice of feuage allowed feudal lords to generate income from their lands while still maintaining control over them. It also provided a stable source of revenue for the lord, as the tenant was obliged to pay the feu-duty annually. Feuage was often collected by representatives of the feudal lord, known as baillis or bailiffs, who would visit each property to assess the number of hearths and collect the corresponding payment.
Over time, the feudal system and with it, the practice of feuage, began to decline. As societies shifted towards more modern systems of land tenure and taxation, feuage became less common. However, the term "feuage" remains as a historical reminder of this particular aspect of medieval landholding.
The word "feuage" comes from the Old French term "foiage" or "fueiage", which was derived from the Latin word "folium", meaning "leaf". In medieval times, feuage referred to a tax or rent paid in the form of leaves, usually from an oak tree, as a sign of feudal tenure or tenancy. The term later evolved to generally represent a tax paid in foliage or leaves, and eventually extended to signify the payment of rent or property tax in general. Over time, the spelling of the word changed, and "feuage" became the commonly used form.
