In old

English law English law is the common law list of national legal systems, legal system of England and Wales, comprising mainly English criminal law, criminal law and Civil law (common law), civil law, each branch having its own Courts of England and Wales, ...

, a capite (from Latin ''caput'', head) was a

tenure Tenure is a type of academic appointment that protects its holder from being fired or laid off except for cause, or under extraordinary circumstances such as financial exigency or program discontinuation. Academic tenure originated in the United ...

in subinfeudation, by which either person or

land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land sur ...

was held immediately of the king, or of his crown, either by knight-service or socage. A holder of a capite is termed a tenant-in-chief. Tenures in capite were abolished by the Tenures Abolition Act 1660.

References

* Common law English laws {{England-law-stub