church scot
/ˈtʃəːtʃ skɒt/(also church shot)
noun
In Anglo-Saxon England: a tax or customary payment rendered to the Church, typically in grain, and usually on or by St Martin's day (11 November). In later medieval England: any of a number of contributions in kind (or money) demanded as a traditional ecclesiastical due and usually required to be paid by a tenant to his or her lord.
- In the Anglo-Saxon period the payment is sometimes specified as one measure or mit of wheat or high-quality grain per hide. From early times secular authorities imposed fines for omission of the payment, and they became increasingly involved in regulating its exaction in the 10th cent., when the payment of tithes was also introduced..
Origin
Old English; earliest use found in Charter: Bishop Oswald to King Edgar. In some forms from church + shot, in some forms from church + scot; in both cases probably as alteration of churchset.