The Saxon thanes divided their hereditary lands into inland, such as lay nearest their dwelling, which they kept to their owu use, and outland, which lay be- yond the demesnes, and was granted out to tenants, at the will of the lord, like copy- hold estates. This outland they subdivided into two parts. One part they disposed among those who attended their persons, called “theodans,” or lesser thanes; the other part they allotted to their husbandmen, or churls. Jacob.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
