Corvée - Definitions from Dictionary.com

3 results for: Corvée

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cor·vée

Audio Help [kawr-vey] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	unpaid labor for one day, as on the repair of roads, exacted by a feudal lord.

2.	an obligation imposed on inhabitants of a district to perform services, as repair of roads, bridges, etc., for little or no remuneration.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME < MF < LL corrogāta contribution, collection, n. use of fem. of L corrogātus (ptp. of corrogāre to collect by asking), equiv. to cor- cor- + rogā(re) to ask + -tus ptp. suffix

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cor·vée Audio Help (kôr-vā', kôr'vā') Pronunciation Key
n.

Labor exacted by a local authority for little or no pay or instead of taxes and used especially in the maintenance of roads.
A day of unpaid work required of a vassal by a feudal lord.

[French corvée and Middle English corve, both from Old French corovee, from Medieval Latin (opera) corrogāta, (work) requested, neuter pl. of Latin corrogātus, past participle of corrogāre, to summon together : com-, com- + rogāre, to ask; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
corvée

1340, "day's unpaid labor due to a lord by vassals under Fr. feudal system" (abolished 1776), from L.L. corrogata (opera) "requested work," from L. corrogare, from com- "with" + rogare "to ask" (see rogation).

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