The word "multure" refers to the fee paid to the owner of a mill for the use of the milling equipment. It is spelled as /ˈmʌltʃər/, with the first syllable pronounced like "mulch" and the second syllable pronounced like "chur". This word comes from the Old French term "molture", which means "milling". The spelling "multure" is the accepted spelling in English, though some may spell it as "multure" or "molture". This word is commonly used in the context of agriculture and farming, particularly in relation to the processing of grain.
Multure refers to a historic term that originated in feudal Europe, specifically related to the practice of milling grain. The word is derived from the Latin term "molitura," which means "milling." Multure was a customary right or a fee charged by a feudal lord to the tenants or serfs for using the lord's mill to process their grains into flour.
The concept of multure involved the obligation of the tenants to bring their harvested grains to the mill owned by their feudal lord. In exchange for using the mill, the tenants were required to pay a portion of their grains as a toll. This toll was called the multure fee and was often a fixed percentage or a specific amount of the grains being processed.
The multure fee played an essential role in the economy of feudal estates, as it provided the lord with an additional source of income. The collected tolls were used to maintain and operate the mill, ensuring its availability for grinding grains for the entire community. Additionally, multure fees were sometimes imposed on individuals from neighboring areas who did not have access to a mill of their own.
Over time, as the feudal system declined and milling processes evolved, the concept of multure gradually became obsolete. However, it remains as a historical term that serves to illustrate the economic and social dynamics of feudal society, specifically concerning grain milling practices.
A grinding; the toll or emolument paid to the miller for grinding.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "multure" has its roots in Latin. It derives from the Latin verb "mollire", meaning "to grind". This verb eventually gave rise to the Latin noun "mola", which translates to "millstone" or "mill". In medieval Latin, "mollitura" referred to the process of grinding grain in a mill.
Over time, this term made its way into various Romance languages, such as Old French. In Old French, the word transformed into "molture", which continued to refer to the act of grinding grain in a mill.
Eventually, "molture" changed to "multure" through the phonetic shifts common in language evolution. In English, "multure" specifically refers to the fee or toll paid for having grain ground at a mill.