Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Unpaid work or service formerly rendered by a tenant to his lord; boon.
  • noun Work or service given gratuitously to a farmer by his neighbors on some special occasion.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • His week-work amounted to two or three days a week, as the season required; in winter, he had "to lie at his lord's fold," when bidden; and he had to contribute his quota of boon-work.

    The Customs of Old England

  • He had also to give what was called _boon-work_ -- namely, three days a week in harvest.

    The Customs of Old England

  • This species of service was called boon-work; and hence the old adage, "I am served like a boon-shearer."

    Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) John Roby 1821

  • The week-work was first and freely commuted, for regular hired labour was easy to obtain; but the boon-work -- the work, that is, which was required for unusual circumstances of a purely temporary character (such as harvesting,

    Mediaeval Socialism Bede Jarrett 1907

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