fyrd
/fəːd
/ /fɪəd /noun
The English militia before 1066.Hence it has been suggested that there was a great fyrd and a select fyrd, the latter based on the 5-hide unit, and better trained and armed....
- By the end of the tenth century, a system of military service had developed in which every unit of five hides was responsible for providing and equipping one man for the fyrd (militia).
- If the money went straight to the king he could call out the fyrd, collect the money and then disband the fyrd, lining his own coffers as William Rufus did after the Conquest.
Origin
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Fahrt, also to fare.